PROSPECTS
Indian agriculture should be able not only to maintain but
also must strive to increase the production of food grains. It appears that
given the availability of organic infrastructure, minimum efforts for
conversion due to the low use of chemical farming methods and the limit of the
public investment, organic farming can be progressively introduced. The
potential areas and crops, which fulfill the above constraints, could be
explored and brought under organic agriculture. The rainfed, tribal, north-east
and hilly regions of India
where the traditional farming is more or less practiced could be considered.
A country like India can enjoy
a number of benefits from the adoption of organic farming. The price premiums
for the products, conservation of the natural resources in terms of improved
soil fertility and water quality, prevention of soil erosion, preservation of
natural and agro-biodiversity are major benefits. Economic and social benefits
like generation of rural employment, lower urban migration, improved household
nutrition, local food security and reduced dependence on external inputs will
be large gains in the Indian conditions. The protection of environment and the
consequent increase in the quality of human life will be other contributions of
organic farming.
