Potential of organic farming in rainfed areas of India

Abstract

Rainfed agriculture is predominant in arid, semi-arid and sub-humid regions of the country and has a crucial role to play in sustaining the economy and food security of India. At present, about 51% of the net sown area is rainfed contributing 41% of the total food production and supports 40% of human and 60% of livestock population. Still a vast majority of farmers in rainfed areas practice low or no external input farming, which is well integrated with livestock, particularly small ruminants. Based on several surveys and reports, it is estimated that up to 30% of the rainfed farmers, particularly in many remote areas of the country do not use chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Thus, many resource poor farmers are practicing organic farming by default. The Government of India task force on organic farming and several other reviewers has identified rainfed areas and regions in north-east as more suitable for organic farming in view of the low input use.