Organic farming research in India: Potential technologies and way forward.

Abstract

The organic movement may have gained a place in the spotlight of the mainstream now, but it has not been like that for long. Since the 1950s, organic farmers operating at a grassroots level have devised, tested and shared production methods. Organic crop production in the organic farming system is gradually gaining momentum worldwide. For achieving sustainable food–livelihood–environmental security, an array of alternatives to chemical intensive agriculture is to be developed. Globally, 187 countries are involved in organic farming with 72.3 million ha land. The area of organic farming increased rapidly from 0.58 thousand ha in 2003–04 to 26.6 thousand ha in 2020–21, and many government schemes are initiated. Of the farmers involved in organic farming globally, 43.8% are from India, but currently India shares only 4.7% to global area. Therefore, technology development is going to play a critical role in enhancing the area, production and productivity. Integrated organic farming system models enhanced the system productivity and resulted in net returns ` 171,867/ha in Umiam, Meghalaya to ` 433,490/ha in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Hence, organic farming endorses the one health approach to ensure healthy soil, plant, animal, human and environment. Organic farming improves the ecosystem services through regenerative approach for rehabilitation of food and farming systems. Therefore, it is an alternative viable option for sustainable and clean food production with minimum environmental pollution. Organic farming practices are suitable for small and marginal farmers, especially for their sustainable livelihood food security and to minimize the risk. Sustained efforts from research institutes, developmental organizations, progressive farmers, input dealers, processors and other stakeholders are warranted for better adoption of organic farming in horticultural crops in the long run. In this article, suitable location–specific organic farming technologies for agricultural and horticultural crops are focused.