Organic farming area grows to 10.5 lakh hectares: Pawar

NEW DELHI: Area under organic farming in India has risen to 10.5 lakh hectares in last six years.

Divulging this to the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on agriculture here, Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said "In India, as against 42,000 hectares under certified organic farming during 2003-04, initial estimates for 2009-10 indicate that organic agriculture under certification has grown to 10.5 lakh hectares."

Out of the 10.5 lakh hectares, nearly 7.5 lakh hectares are fully certified while remaining three lakh hectares are under various stages of conversion, he said. Indian organic agriculture had reached a stage where it could play a significant role, he said, not only in the growing domestic market but also in global organic food trade.

The minister said that the farm ministry was promoting organic farming in the country through various schemes such as National Project on Organic Farming, National Horticulture Mission, Technology Mission for North East and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.