Param Paragat Krishi Vikas Yojana

“Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.” ― Gustav Mahler

Organic farming has been prevalent in India’s agricultural sphere ever since the 20th century. It is a method of farming wherein the land is cultivated and raised in a manner that nourishes the soil through the use of organic wastes and other biological materials. This system of farming paves the way for an eco-friendly environment in which pollution is curtailed. Param Paragat Krishi Vikas Yojana was initiated in the year of 2015 for the purpose of supporting and promoting organic farming to improve the health of the soil. The scheme strives to persuade the farmers to adopt eco-friendly concept of cultivation and reduce the usage of fertilizers, pesticides, etc., to improve yields. Know more about

organic farm certification.

Objectives

The scheme seeks to promote the production of agricultural products without the usage of chemicals and pesticide residues, or in other words, through organic farming. The following are its areas of focus:

Promote organic farming among rural youth, farmers, consumers and traders.
Propagate the latest technologies in farming.
Avail the assistance of experts from India’s public agricultural research system.
Conduct at-least one cluster demonstration in a village.

Features

The following are the salient features of the initiative:

The scheme is an elaborated component of Soil Health Management (SHM). The latter is a part of National Mission of Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA).
Organic farming will be promoted by adopting the "Village by cluster approach" and "Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) certification".
More organic farming products can be found in the market.
Farmers will not be incurred with liabilities for expenditure on certification.
Farmers will be accorded with a sum of Rs.20,000 for a period of three years to assist them in the harvesting of crops.
Financial assistance up to Rs. ten lakhs is provided to farmers and Rs 4.95 lakhs will be granted for mobilization and PGS Certification with a subsidy ceiling of one hectare per farmer.
A minimum of 30% of the budget will be allocated for women beneficiaries and farmers.

Mode of Operation

The scheme is implemented in a time-frame of three years by way of a cluster approach. Under the initiative, 50 or more farmers form a cluster having 50 acres of land to pursue organic farming. Every farmer will be accorded with a sum of Rs.20,000 per acre, so as to facilitate them in the harvesting of crops.

Activities to be Pursued

The following activities will be pursued under the scheme:

Adoption of Participatory Guarantee System (PSG) Certification.
Manure management and biological nitrogen harvesting.

The former approach intends to mobilize the farmers or local people to form clusters and ensure quality control. The latter approach will be used to convert a non-organic land into an organic one, integrate manure management, as well as packing, labeling and branding of produce.

Financial Assistance

A sum of Rs 14.94 lakh is allocated per cluster for mobilization, adoption of PGS certification and manure management. Farmers will be provided with an amount of Rs. ten lakhs per cluster of 50 acres or 20 acres for activities related to manure management and biological nitrogen harvesting. Besides, a sum of Rs.4.95 lakhs per cluster will be accorded to Implementing Agencies (IAs) for mobilization and adoption of PGS Certification and Quality Control.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Param Paragat Krishi Vikas Yojana for Organic Farming.

The Param Paragat Krishi Vikas Yojana is a scheme initiated by the Indian government in 2015 to support and promote organic farming practices. Its primary objective is to improve soil health by encouraging farmers to adopt eco-friendly cultivation methods and reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

The main objectives of the Param Paragat Krishi Vikas Yojana include promoting organic farming among rural youth, farmers, consumers, and traders; propagating the latest technologies in farming; availing assistance from experts in India's public agricultural research system; and conducting cluster demonstrations in villages.

The "Village by cluster approach" involves forming clusters of 50 or more farmers with a combined land area of 50 acres or more to pursue organic farming. This approach aims to promote organic farming practices through collective efforts and knowledge sharing within the cluster.

The Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) certification is a quality assurance system utilized under the Param Paragat Krishi Vikas Yojana. It involves mobilizing farmers or local people to form clusters and ensure quality control of organic produce through a peer-review process.

Under the Param Paragat Krishi Vikas Yojana, each farmer in a cluster is provided with a sum of Rs. 20,000 per acre for a period of three years to assist them in organic crop cultivation. Additionally, a sum of Rs. 10 lakhs is provided per cluster of 50 acres (or 20 acres) for activities related to manure management and biological nitrogen harvesting.

The Param Paragat Krishi Vikas Yojana mandates that a minimum of 30% of the budget be allocated for women beneficiaries and farmers. This provision aims to encourage and support the participation of women in organic farming practices.

Implementing Agencies (IAs) are responsible for mobilizing farmers, facilitating the adoption of the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) certification, and ensuring quality control. They are provided with a sum of Rs. 4.95 lakhs per cluster to carry out these activities.

The Param Paragat Krishi Vikas Yojana is implemented over a time-frame of three years, during which farmers in the clusters receive financial assistance and support for organic farming practices.

Manure management and biological nitrogen harvesting are crucial activities promoted under the Param Paragat Krishi Vikas Yojana. These practices aim to convert non-organic land into organic land, integrate manure management techniques, and facilitate the packing, labeling, and branding of organic produce.

By promoting organic farming practices and facilitating the certification and quality control processes, the Param Paragat Krishi Vikas Yojana aims to increase the availability of organic farming products in the market. This, in turn, can help meet the growing demand for organic and chemical-free agricultural products among consumers.