Huge potential for organic farming in Rajasthan

Jaipur: The largely arid state of Rajasthan has great potential to develop organic farming and if a planned thrust is given to organic farming, it has the potential to generate over eight million jobs in Rajasthan during the course of next five years, apex industry body ASSOCHAM has suggested.

Promotion of organic farming in Rajasthan can generate over 6.5 million jobs in the state apart from additional about 1.5 million jobs if on-farm storing, processing, value addition, packaging and marketing facilities are included, considering organic farms provide over 30 per cent more jobs per hectare as against non-organic farms, according to a study titled ‘Organic Rajasthan: Untapped Potential for Growth.’ The report was jointly released by Anil K. Agarwal, past president of The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and Princess Diya Kumari of Jaipur, chairperson, ASSOCHAM Rajasthan Council.

Besides, promotion of organic farming in Rajasthan can lead to wealth accumulation of about Rs.47,000 crore and generate exports worth Rs.600 crore during the aforesaid period, according to the ASSOCHAM study.

“Adoption of organic farming can increase net per capita income of a farmer in the state by a whopping 250 per cent to over Rs.15,000 in next five years from a meager Rs.6,000 currently,” highlights the ASSOCHAM study. “This will also arrest migration of people from Rajasthan to other states in search of jobs.”

Switching over to organic farming would result in bringing down the input costs and will fetch premium pricing of upto 50 per cent higher than the normal price and about 100 per cent in the retail market.

The Morarka Foundation headed by former Indian minister Kamal Morarka promoted organic farming in the Shekhawati region of the state over two decade ago and the farmers in the area are reaping rich benefits out of the organic farming.

Switching over to organic farming would result in bringing down the input costs and will fetch premium pricing of upto 50 per cent higher than the normal price and about 100 per cent in the retail market.

Of the total organically certified area of 1.7 lakh hectares (ha) across the country, Odisha has the maximum area of over 26,300 ha followed by Jammu and Kashmir (22,316 ha) and Rajasthan (22,105 ha).

“Rajasthan has a crucial role to take India’s share in global organic exports from about 0.2 per cent to about 2.5 per cent by 2017,” said the ASSOCHAM study. “Besides, the state has the potential of becoming India’s export hub for certified organic food to the global markets.”

Organic farming in Rajasthan is a default practice in many districts due to low usage of fertilizers and pesticides by farmers because of favorable agro-climatic conditions and availability of rich natural resources.

Cotton, turmeric, ginger and some variety of pulses are certain organic crops produced in Rajasthan and efforts are being made to produce other pulses’ varieties like arhar, moong along with commodities like honey, garlic, chilli, paddy, medicinal plants and others.

Outlining a roadmap to convert Rajasthan into an organic state, ASSOCHAM in its study has stressed that farmers in the state should focus on potential crops and areas in a phased and compact manner.

The study stressed that the state government should launch a ‘Mission Organic Rajasthan’ on the sidelines of region specific plans like concept of organic village in each district/development block.