Research Unit for Livelihoods and Natural Resources (RULNR), Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS), Begumpet, Hyderabad-500 016, Andhra Pradesh.
*Author for correspondence, E-mail: Srihithasuresh@yahoo.com.
§This paper is the revised version of the working paper on “Organic Farming: Status, Issues and Prospects” published in July 2009 as a part of RULNR-CESS working paper series. This working paper was an out put of ongoing research project titled “Assessment of Economic and Ecological returns from Millet based Bio-diverse Organic Farms vis-à-vis Conventional Farms”, funded by the Jamsetji Tata Trust, Mumbai. An earlier version of this working paper was presented in the Research Unit for Livelihoods and Natural Resources (RULNR), Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS) working paper seminar on 12 June 2009.
This review paper attempts to bring together different issues in the light of recent developments in organic farming. The after effects of green revolution have encouraged the farmers to take up organic farming. This paper has reviewed the global and Indian scenario with reference to organic farming. In India, the cultivated land under certification is 2.8 Mha only. The key issues emerging in organic farming include yield reduction in conversion to organic farm, soil fertility enhancement, integration of livestock, certification constraints, ecology, marketing and policy support. The potential for organic farming, especially in the dryland regions has been discussed. It has been argued that organic farming is productive and sustainable, but there is a need for strong support to it in the form of subsidies, agricultural extension services and research.
