Research Paper

Year 2023, Volume-17, Issue-2 (July - December)

Challenges and Prospects for Organic Farming: A Case

Study from India
Harmandeep Kaur
Research Scholar, University Business School, Panjab University, Chandigarh

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT

Key Words: Several past studies have considered organic farming as it serves as a
responsive sustainable approach to the rural development. This study
emphasises and focuses on the opportunities and constraints in organic
farming in context of India. There are several cost and marketing related
problems specific to organic food. This study identify the following areas
to addresss these problems in the country: develop a regional programme
to address specific regional problems, take into account the unique
conditions prevailing in the region; provide financial assistance for the
effective implementation of organic projects and programmes, access to
advanced technology, effective information sharing platforms. The organic
movement’s capacity for adaptation and learning from past experiences
will determine if organic farming is able to fully realise its capacity for
fostering resilience( Milestad and Darnhofer, 2003).

Introduction taking into account the significant socio-ecological

effects of food production, and producing high-qual-
Numerous farming practises contribute to both adapta- ity food in sufficient quantities (Das et al., 2020). Many
tion and mitigation efforts for climate change, includ- studies have considered relevance of organic farming
ing prevented damage (Borron, 2006). The main tenets in sustainable growth (Nesterenko et al., 2020; Dhiman
of organic food production include preserving and 2020; Chiriacò et al., 2017; Łuczka et al., 2021; Hans
enhancing deep-rooted soil fertility, reducing all forms and Rao, 2018; Hokazono & Hayashi, 2012; Michelsen,
of pollution, avoiding the use of pesticides and syn- 2001). According to Manta et al., 2023 several past stud-
thetic fertilisers, conserving genetic diversity in food, ies considered organic farming concept as a responsive

Received 16.06.2023; Accepted 01.07.2023

DOI: 10.48165/gmj.2022.17.2.10
Copyright @ Gyan Management Journal (acspublisher.com/journals/index.php/gmj)

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Harmandeep Kaur Year 2023, Volume-17, Issue-2 (July-December)

sustainable approach to the primary sector and the rural prehensive organic approach for ensuring ecologically
development. The majority of studies have also focused and economically sustainable crop production, Inhana
more on industrialised nations than on emerging ones Rational Farming Technology was established on the
(Jouzi et al., 2017). Research on organic farming is gain- premise of “Element Energy Activation” and is based
ing importance in India with more number of studies on both modern scientific research and traditional
(Aulakh 2022a; Aulakh 2022b; Duddigan et al., 2023; Indian philosophy (Das et al., 2020).
Babu et al., 2023; Jaacks et al., 2023; Naik et al., 2023;
Kumar et al., 2023; Paramasivam et al., 2023; Singh and
Sajwan, 2023; Reddy et al., 2022; Seufert et al., 2023). Research methodology
The review process includes the phases of locating
Literature review appropriate material, screening and selecting, sum-
marising, and presenting the results. Sources from the
Organic Farming in India reference lists of the featured articles were added using
the snowball method as they seemed relevant. From
In India, agriculture is not extremely intense in terms of a variety of studies conducted in India and overseas,
the use of agrochemicals in a number of different types the author endeavoured to create a body of informa-
of soil land. Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, tion about the prospects and limitations in organic
Sikkim, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Madhya marketing. A study that can be used to expand organic
Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh are the main states farming in India is created by combining the advice
in India engaged in organic agriculture (Das et al., from many studies. Since the purpose of this research
2020). India is among the top 10 countries with the is to combine academic knowledge with well-known
largest areas of organic agriculture land (Willer and practical frameworks to produce a more reliable and
Lernoud, 2017). scientifically informed process-based framework for
the adoption, the author did an extensive examina-
The use of agricultural chemicals is generally tion of the literature. Given the range of the organic
quite low, particularly in tribal and mountainous areas, agriculture research, that span numerous manage-
which helps the switch to organic farming (Manida ment subfields and are incredibly variable in terms of
and Nedumaran, 2021). A number of initiatives and methodologies (e.g., qualitative and quantitative) and
programmes have recently been taken by the Indian conceptual approaches (i.e., theories), this kind of eval-
government to promote organic farming there. A com- uation is required.

Source: FiBL Survey 2021

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Harmandeep Kaur Year 2023, Volume-17, Issue-2 (July-December)

Findings Remedies
• Use of Technology
Challenges Technology can help more conscious mapping of cul-
• Cost related constraints tivation areas using sensor technology and spatial geo-
Organic farming have low yield compared with con- data. New technology like 3D printers can be used to
ventional one. Some studies claim that a significant take advantage. BeeScanning App is another milestone
switch to organic farming might lower crop yields in the growth of organic farming (Das et al., 2020).
globally by 40%, which would result in an estimated • Informational platform
amount of crop failure needed to feed around 2.5 bil-
Farmers, consumers, and policymakers should all be
lion people (Jouzi et al., 2017). As chemical fertilisers
educated about organic farming. To get the desired
are not used in organic farming, which yields lower
results consultations, exhibits, agricultural fairs,
yield than conventional farming does, organic farm-
resource centres, and publications should be encour-
ing requires much more area to produce the same
aged (Bakewell-Stone et al., 2008). Botanical remedies,
amount of organic food as conventional farming does
some of which are based on extremely old Vedic texts,
(Das et al., 2020). There are constraints and risks along
offer a wealth of locally adapted pest and disease-spe-
the organic value chains (Abele et al., 2007). Nutrient
cific treatments (Manida and Nedumaran, 2021).
management is also a major challenge. Maintaining
the balance of nutrient input and output in the soil • Marketing
is also essential because organic farms donot import A green marketing plan is something that Indian farms
synthetic ingredients (Jouzi et al., 2017). There is also should consider when promoting their own goods
a lack of experience of intensive organic production in (Aceleanu 2016). Market access for organic goods
general and especially of fruits and vegetables (Abele is urgently needed. It is necessary to develop domes-
et al., 2007). Small-scale farmers need to receive suit- tic marketing centres (Bakewell-Stone et al., 2008).
able research and investments that focus on their indi- According to several studies, the consumer’s attitude
vidual requirements in order to improve their status, towards green products serves as the foundation for
however small-holders are frequently overlooked in the growth of a business that sells green products
research and extension plans and programmes (Jouzi (Aceleanu 2016). Positive attitude had the most role in
et al., 2017). determining customers’ propensity to purchase organic
food, followed by subjective norms and perceived
• Market related constraints
behavioural control (Kaur, 2023).
There is a lack of Education and research for organic
food marketing. Lack of familiarity with international • Training
markets, including knowledge of the organic market Providing manufacturers of organic food with consult-
place overseas put a huge challenge to farmers (Abele ing services will help (Khadda 2021). The development
et al., 2007). Certification is also one of the major issue and spread of associated technology and long as well as
as many small-scale and resource-constrained farm- short-term trainings should be promoted by the gov-
ers cannot afford certification because it is expensive ernment. Interactive gatherings on particular organic
and requires infrastructures for monitoring and doc- farming topics will be beneficial (Bakewell-Stone et al.,
umenting producers (Jouzi et al., 2017). Competition
2008).
from technically more advanced neighboring countries
creates difficulty for farmers of developing countries • Strategic approach
(Abele et al., 2007). Another significant issue that needs Produce should include high-value crops like spices,
to be addressed is market access. Only 43% of individu- pharmacopeial herbs, fruits, and vegetables (Khadda
als in rural parts of developing countries are reportedly 2021). Legume crops can be widely grown because it
able to travel by motor vehicle to markets in under two makes it easier to supply nitrogen that has been fixed
hours (Jouzi et al., 2017). organically (Manida and Nedumaran, 2021).

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Harmandeep Kaur Year 2023, Volume-17, Issue-2 (July-December)

• Accessibility of inputs References

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