Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin Unveils Organic Farming Policy for Promoting Chemical-Free Agriculture

On Tuesday, aimed at conserving soil health, agroecology, and biodiversity, the Tamil Nadu government rolled out the organic farming policy towards 'chemical-free organic agriculture' in the State, thereby providing safe food for the people.

The policy unveiled by Chief Minister M K Stalin at the Secretariat would work on providing safe, healthier, and environment-friendly food.

India occupies fifth place with a total area of 2.66 million hectares while Tamil Nadu holds 14th rank in organic farming across the country with 31,629 hectares of organic agriculture land, the policy said.

Madhya Pradesh has the largest area under organic certification followed by Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Karnataka.

In 2020-21, India produced around 3.48 million metric tonnes of certified organic products like oil seeds, cereals and millets, cotton, and pulses.

Regarding exports, processed foods (45.87 per cent) lead among the products followed by oil seeds at 13.25 per cent and cereals at 7.61 per cent.

In 2020-21, Tamil Nadu shipped 4,223 metric tonnes of organic products worth Rs 108 crore.

Some of the advantages of organic farming are that it improves and sustains soil fertility while minimising the use of off-farm resources.

"Organic farming creates a harmonious balance between crop production and animal husbandry and facilitates alignment of life with natural ecosystems and cycles. It also supports self-reliance and sustainability in farming," the policy document said.

On the need for organic farming, the policy said many health issues noticed worldwide were found to be residues of agrochemicals used. It has been proven that pesticide residues cause many health hazards to humans and animals.

World Health Organisation is promoting 'One Health' which necessitates organic farming to improve soil health. Tamil Nadu has great potential for the production and supply of organic produce in relation to the global demand, the police said.

"This necessity for an environmentally safe food supply system has initiated the need for framing the organic farming policy which will ensure upscale and support the chemical-free organic agriculture in Tamil Nadu and to provide safe food for the people," the policy said.

Organic farming would encourage mixed farming as the components are interdependent. Integrated organic farming systems would be popularised and season-based cropping system diversification would be adopted, it said.

Nutritional crops like millet, pulses and vegetables will be encouraged to ensure nutritional security. Farmer Producer Organisations would be promoted to reduce the input cost towards the purchase of inorganic fertilisers and pesticides, it said.

Various committees including a high-level team headed by Chief Secretary would be formed to review the policy every five years. A steering committee would be formed to monitor the implementation of organic farming policy and the finalisation of schemes.

It said a district-level committee headed by a Collector with members from various departments and institutions would be formed.

-With PTI Inputs

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