Organic Farming In Tamil Nadu, How To Start

Introduction on how to start organic farming in Tamil Nadu: Organic farming is defined as the farming method that involves growing and nurturing crops without the use of synthetic-based fertilizers and pesticides. In other words, it is a technique that involves cultivating plants and raising animals in natural methods. Also, genetically modified organisms are not allowed. It relies on environmentally balanced agricultural principles such as crop rotation, green manure, organic waste, control of biological pests, the addition of minerals and rocks.

In particular, organic farming includes;

The use of core crops, green manures, animal fertilizers, and crop rotations to fertilize the soil to maximize biological activity and maintain long-term soil health.
Use of biological control, crop rotation, and other techniques for the management of herbs, pests, and diseases.
Removal of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers and other substances.
Organic farming focus on soil and water conservation, and other management practices.

A guide on how to start organic farming in Tamil Nadu, schemes, subsidies, and certificaton

Organic Cotton Production in Tamil Nadu — Organic Cotton Farming (Image source: pixabay)

Organic agriculture is a unique production system that promotes and enhances the health of the agroecosystem. Due to the factors, there is a huge potential for producing all types of organic products. It is a system that avoids or eliminates the use of artificial inputs (such as fertilizers, pesticides, hormones, and feed additives, etc.) and maximizes crop rotations, crop residues, relies on non-farm. List of common characteristics of successful organic farmers;

Committed to providing safe food and protecting the environment
Patience and good observation skills
Understanding the ecosystem
Good marketing skills and motivation to spend time exploring markets
Flexibility and eagerness to experiment with new techniques and methods
Sharing success and failure stories and being willing to learn from others

Importance of organic farming in Tamil Nadu

Organic farming in Tamil Nadu is gaining increasing attention among farmers, producers, processors, traders, exporters, and consumers. The growing awareness of the health risks due to the possible contamination of agricultural products by the use of chemical fertilizers has played a significant role in the restoration of this form.
Organic farming creates an ecosystem that can achieve sustainable production without the use of artificial external inputs. This is the key to sound development for a healthy environment. It reduces environmental pollution and the use of non-renewable natural resources. It also preserves soil fertility and prevents soil erosion.
With 6% of the country’s population, Tamil Nadu accounts for only 3% of India’s water resources. The state’s water resources depend on rainfall and water discharge from the neighboring state.
In Tamil Nadu, there is a separate movement among farmers, agronomists, and scientists in favor of organic farming. NGOs, the State Department of Agriculture, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, and other public and private agencies have started advocating for organic farming in major crops.
Organic farming systems have attracted increasing attention over the past decade as they are thought to offer some solutions to the problems surrounding the agricultural sector.
In Tamil Nadu, 12,675 hectares of land is certified under organic farming. Currently, 10,000 organic farmers practice organic farming. However, many of them are working without certification. Although they welcome the announcement, different demands are emerging every day, hoping that the state’s first agricultural budget will meet them. A section of farmers thinks that organic farming should get a big push in the budget. Demands range from setting up specialty retail outlets for organic products to setting up the state’s own crop insurance agency, starting with the Income Commission to guaranteeing a minimum income for those involved in organic farming. Farmers’ organization Safe Food Alliance Tamil Nadu (SFAT) says the budget needs to be allocated separately – about 30% of the total agricultural budget for organic farming.

Soil management practices for organic farming in Tamil Nadu

Black cotton soil is mostly found in Tamil Nadu.
Red loam, laterite, black, alluvial, and saline soils are the predominant soils of Tamil Nadu.
Red soil occupies a large part of Tamil Nadu, especially the interior districts like the coastal districts. In Tamil Nadu, red soil is found in Kancheepuram, Coimbatore, Trichy, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Sivaganga, Cuddalore, Vellore Salem, Dharmapuri, Ramanathapuram, Virudunagar, Madurai, Dindigul, Nagapattinam, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, and the Nilgiris.
Laterite clay is smooth and usually red brick with a small amount of titanium. It is found in Kancheepuram, Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, and the Nilgiris districts.
Sandy or saline soils are found in areas with poor drainage and high evaporation. Except for Kanyakumari and Nilgiris, these are found in all districts in Tamil Nadu.

The Erode district of Tamil Nadu was purposively selected as it is part of the 65% organic turmeric and cotton growing area of Tamil Nadu. In the second phase, the Anthiyur block was purposively selected because it occupied 76% of the organic turmeric and cotton area in the Erode district. The total area under organic turmeric and cotton identified in Anthiur block are the villages cultivating more than 75%. In Tamil Nadu, the identified villages were Poiyankuttai, Adireddiyur, Perumapalayam, Pudukadu, and Esaparai. Then, two villages namely Poyankotai and Padukado were randomly selected from the identified villages.

Focus on restoring soil health through organic farming and promote composting through vermicomposting, green manure, etc. Since soil is the heart of organic farming systems, newcomers need to understand the different characteristics and limitations of the soil found on their farms. Good fertility levels, good drainage, and organic matter, proper pH, biological health, high legume content, and pest pressure fields are excellent assets. Often these fields are prepared in advance for transition and certification.

The need for organic farming practices in Tamil Nadu

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How To Start Organic Paddy Cultivation in Tamil Nadu — Organic Paddy Cultivation (pic credit: pixabay)

As the population grows, our compulsion will not only be to stabilize agricultural production but also to increase it sustainably. Scientists have found that the green revolution has reached a plateau with the highest input usage and is now sustained with a declining return on falling profits. Thus, for life and property to exist, the natural balance needs to be maintained at all costs. The clear choice for this will be more relevant in the current era when these agrochemicals that are produced from fossil fuels are not renewable and are declining in availability. It can also cost us a lot of money in the future.

Key features of organic farming include;

1. Firstly, organic farming protecting long-term soil fertility by maintaining organic matter levels, and careful mechanical intervention.

2. Indirectly using relatively insoluble nutrient sources Provide crop nutrients that are available to the plant by the action of soil micro-organisms.

3. Self-sufficiency of nitrogen through the use of fruits and biological nitrogen, as well as efficient recycling of organic matter including crop residues and livestock fertilizers.

4. Weed, disease, and pest control depend mainly on crop rotations, organic managing, resistant plant varieties, and limited thermal, biological and chemical intervention.

5. Paying full regard to their evolutionary adaptations, and animal welfare issues for nutrition, housing, health, breeding, and rearing.

6. Also, careful attention to the impact of the organic system on the wider environment.

Sustainable livelihoods through organic farming practices in Tamil Nadu

Organic seed production

One of the important inputs required for organic farming is good-quality organic seeds. Currently, only chemically grown and treated seeds are available to farmers. Through, it is proposed to develop organic seeds involving farmers so that farmers have access to good quality organic seeds.

In Tamil Nadu, organic seeds were produced on 175.38 acres in Ramanathapuram, Kancheepuram, Dindigul, and Nagapattinam districts. Certified organic seeds and truthfully labeled seeds (TFL) were developed in Tamil Nadu under this component of organic seed production. Inputs like quality breeder seeds, groundnut, black gram, and sesame, some organic inputs such as green manure seeds, neem cake, bio-fertilizers, and vermicomposting were distributed among the beneficiaries.

Conversion to the organic system by providing input support and crop loan

During the transition period for organic farmers, conversions require assistance in the form of standard inputs and crop loans. Inputs such as neem cake, bio-fertilizers, vermicomposting and mechanical traps were distributed. Paddy, Groundnut, Chilli, Tomato, Sesame, Pulses, Cereals, and Cotton, etc., have been cultivated under these schemes.

Use of bio-fertilizers in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is the leading state in the use of bio-fertilizers, an organic alternative to chemical fertilizers. Tamil Nadu produces more than 14,000 bio-fertilizers a year by the National Center for Organic Farming. The production of bio-fertilizers can be safely equated with consumption as the state produces only what it eats and that is why the state is at the forefront of the country. Most of the state’s production comes from eight state-owned facilities across the state. Farmers use these bio-fertilizers or bio-inoculants as a substitute to NPK (nitrogen phosphorus potash) fertilizers and use many crops to increase yields.

Organic crops cultivated in Tamil Nadu

Coconut, Cashew, Coffee, Tea, Rubber, Areca nut, Bamboo, and Cocoa are the major plantation crops cultivated in Tamil Nadu.

Crops recommended for organic farming in Tamil Nadu

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Organic Sugarcane Production (Pic credit: pixabay)

Crop classification	Crops
Cereals and millets	Paddy, Sorghum, Maize, and Minor Millets
Pulses	Pigeon Pea, Green Gram, Black Gram
Oilseeds	Groundnut, Castor, Sunflower, Sesame
Commercial crops	Cotton and sugarcane
Plantation crops	Tea, Coffee, Cashew, Coconut, Arecanut
Spices	Chillies, turmeric, pepper, cardamom, coriander
Fruits	Mango, Banana, Guava, Sapota, and Amla
Vegetables	Tapioca, Tomato, Brinjal, Cucurbits, Onion, Cole Crops, and leafy vegetables
Medicinal crops	Senna, Coleus, and Gloriosa

Fruit crops potential area for organic cultivation in Tamil Nadu

Crops	Potential districts in Tamil Nadu
Banana	Tiruchirapalli, Erode, Tirunelveli, Pudukottai, Thoothukudi, Thanjavur, Coimbatore
Mango	Krishnagiri, Vellore, Dindigul, Theni, Dharmapuri, Madhurai, Thiruvallur
Sapota	Tirunelveli, Erode, Karur, Dindigul
Grapes	Theni, Coimbatore
Guava	Madurai, Dindigul, Vellore, Virudhunagar
Anola	Tirunelveli, Sivagangai, Thoothukudi, Coimbatore, Dindigul, Erode

Vegetable crops potential area for organic cultivation in Tamil Nadu

Crops	Potential districts in Tamil Nadu
Tapioca	Namakkal, Salem, Dharmapuri
Drumstick	Thoothukudi, Dindigul, Karur
Tomato	Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Salem, Krishnagiri
Onion	Perambalur, Tiruchirapalli, Namakkal, Dindidul
Brinjal	Vellore, Kanchipuram, Theni, Coimbatore
Cabbage	Nilgiris, Krishnagiri, Dindigul
Potato	Nilgiris, Dindigul
Bhendi	Kanchipuram, Vellore, Dindigul

Organic vegetable growing districts – The state government plans to encourage farmers to grow vegetables through organic farming. Depending on the crop, incentives ranging from 2,500 per hectare to 5,000 per hectare will be given. 60,000 farmers will benefit. An amount of Rs 15 crore has been allocated and a government order is expected to be issued soon, according to a state agriculture department. It aims to promote the organic cultivation of vegetables such as Greens, Eggplant, Cabbage, Lady’s Finger, and Cabbage. In terms of area, the target this year is to get about 76,000 acres or 30,850 hectares, while the target is one lakh acres (about 40,470 hectares).

Currently, according to one estimate, the total area under organic farming in Tamil Nadu is approximately 65,610 acres (approximately 26,650 hectares).

The five largest organic vegetable growing districts in Tamil Nadu include Nilgiris (1,287 hectares), Coimbatore (77 hectares), Dindigul (55 hectares), Namakkal (49 hectares), Tiruppur (47 hectares).

Major organic vegetable growing Districts in Tamil Nadu are;

1 Nilgiris

2 Coimbatore

3 Dindigul

4 Namakkal

5 Tiruppur

6 Dharmapuri

7 Villupuram

8 Madurai

9 Vellore

10 Kancheepuram

Organic farming demonstration fields in Tamil Nadu

In Tamil Nadu, organic farming demonstration fields were set up in 24 acres of land in Kancheepuram, Dindigul, and Nagapattinam, and Ramanathapuram districts. It aims to bring a variety of organic farming techniques to a wide range of farmers in and around the beneficial villages. Demonstrate various organic farming technologies such as preparation and application of plant growth regulators, use of pheromone traps and mechanical traps for pest control, preparation of vermicomposting and compost, cultivation of Azolla, and use of cow urine, irrigation use of farm ponds, etc., were done.

Fertilizer management for organic farming in Tamil Nadu

Fertilizer is a critical input for crop production and productivity. On average, Tamil Nadu uses 23 Lakh Metric Tonnes of chemical fertilizers every year. In addition, the Department of Agriculture is encouraging farmers to use bio-fertilizers and organic fertilizers to maintain soil health and reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers. Department of Chemicals and Fertilisers, Government of India is conducting biennial agricultural input conferences for the Kharif and Rabi seasons, separately before the start of the crop season to ensure adequate fertilizer availability to farmers.

The Department of Fertilizers approves the fertilizer assessment for each season in Tamil Nadu and distributes the fertilizer to the state every month. Organic matter is essential for soil fertility. It maintains good soil physical conditions (such as soil structure, aeration, and water holding capacity). It also contains large amounts of nitrogen (N) in soil deposits and large amounts of other nutrients such as phosphorus (P) and sulfur (S). Manure is plant and animal waste that is used as a source of plant nutrients. They release nutrients after their digestion. Manure is organic material obtained from the residues of animals, humans, and plants, in which the nutrients of plants are composed of complex organic forms.

In organic farming systems, nutrient supplies to plants, management of biologically relevant processes such as nitrogen (N) fixation by clover and other legumes, and limited use of off-farm materials.

One of the major challenges facing organic farmers is nutrition management. The problem in the short term is to provide the crop with the right nutrients at the right place to grow so that economically viable yields can be achieved. The challenge is to maintain a nutrient balance to avoid nutrient rundown or environmental pollution.

Nutrient management on organic farms should meet the nutritional needs of the crop economically and avoid soil nutrient deficiencies while maintaining or improving soil production without much loss of nutrients. The availability of soil nutrients depends on the different soil chemical, physical and biological properties, their interaction, and their interaction with the crop system. Although many characteristics of soil can be measured, crop performance is the best indicator of soil productivity. Organic fertilizers have gained more attention in our crop system.

The components of the nutrition management system are as follows;

1. Biodynamic farming

2. Bio-fertilizer technology

3. Composting

4. Vermicomposting

5. Coir compost

6. Panchakavya

7. Dasakavya

8. Effective microorganisms

Organic fertilizer testing laboratories in Tamil Nadu are;

Tamil Nadu government has established 14 Fertilizer Control Laboratories, 12 Pesticide Testing Laboratories, 3 Pesticide Testing cum Coding centers, and One Central Control Laboratory to ensure the quality of fertilizers and pesticides.

Moreover, the quality of organic manures such as Vermicompost, City Compost is ensured by two Organic Fertilizer Testing Laboratories at Tiruchirapalli and Coimbatore. The Biofertilizers quality is ensured at Biofertilizers quality control laboratory functioning at Tiruchirapalli.

Organic farming policy in Tamil Nadu

Department of Sustainable Organic Agriculture, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), said that it would be more than sufficient if the government fully implemented the existing organic farming policy. The policy was presented to the government five years ago. It was formed with the help of departments such as horticulture, planting and crops, agriculture, animal husbandry, and the university. But it has not been implemented yet. There are many positive aspects to this policy and it will be easier for the government to implement it after making a major announcement regarding organic farming.

In Tamil Nadu, about 5,000 individual farmers – mostly small and backward farmers are engaged in organic farming. Only a few of them have organic certification. There are about 32 certification agencies in the state.

Subsidies for organic certification in Tamil Nadu

The State Organic Certification Agency charges very low fees as compared to private certification agencies, Tamil Nadu Organic Certification Department (TNOCD).

The three categories in this certification are small farmers, big farmers, and groups. Farmers who own less than 5 acres of land are small farmers and they need to pay a fee of Rs 2,700 per annum for certification. Owning more than 5 acres, they are large farmers and need to pay 3,200. Farmers also have to pay for their accommodation and travel etc. before submitting their certificates. To alleviate their fears, the government may consider subsidizing them.

Tamil Nadu Organic Certification Department

Organic farms that do not use artificial fertilizers, pesticides, plant growth regulators, and livestock feed additives, and genetically modified organisms are registered under organic certification. The Department of Seed Certification and Organic Certification is working with the following wings to ensure the supply of quality seeds for the benefit of farmers and to encourage organic farming.

1. Seed Certification – This department has achieved targeted production of certified seeds in paddy and millet. There is a need to increase the production of certified seeds in pulses and oilseeds.

2. Seed Quality Control – High-quality seeds are essential for good crop production (and therefore good profits) and reduce the likelihood of crop failure. In contrast, seeds from unknown sources can lead to poor stand establishment, unsatisfactory field performance, and low yields.

3. Seed testing – Seed quality describes the potential performance of the seed, the trueness to variety, germination capacity, vigor and root free, other crop seed, weed, and disease incidence. Seed testing is an inevitable tool to determine if seeds meet quality standards, thus access their suitability for planting and reducing the risks of planting low-quality seeds. Also, it helps determine the need for drying and processing and the specific procedure that should be used.

4. Organic Certification – Organic certification is a certification process that involves registration, inspection, evaluation, and even issuance of certificates to producers, processors, and traders/handlers by the principles of NPOP. The farm is based on a design and management system that creates an ecosystem that has sustainable productivity without the use of artificial external inputs, including chemicals. It includes a set of production standards for the cultivation, processing, storage, packaging, and transportation of crops for which a written assurance is given by a certification body.

Tamil Nadu Organic Certification Department has issued scope certificates to 1,549 farmers under the National Program on Organic Production (NPOP) standards. In addition, transaction certificates worth Rs 95.68 lakh have been issued by the Tamil Nadu Organic Certification Department for the production volume of 224 metric tonnes. Also, organic products increase the selling price by about 20% in the domestic market. Organic processing certificates have been issued for the production of virgin coconut oil. Organic trade certificates have also been issued for the marketing of advanced organic products.

Pest management practices for organic farming in Tamil Nadu

Organic farming is a system that maintains the soil, the ecosystem, and the health of the people. Some pest management practices are;

Cultural practices – They can be obtained by methods such as crop isolation, mixed cropping, and crop rotation. Sowing and planting time can be used to establish young plants at a tolerable stage before an attack occurs and to reduce the susceptibility period to attack.

Mechanical and physical control – Mechanical and physical control practices are tillage, cutting, mowing, mulching, and organic soil coverage. The crop rotates between crops to include crop residues and soil amendments. It also destroys weeds and disrupts the life cycle of pests.

Biological control – Biological control in the protection of organic plants is a way of controlling pests and diseases using other animals that rely on predators, parasitism, and herbivory, or the management of active farmers on some other natural mechanism. In organic farming, biological agents can be imported to places where they are not found naturally, or farmers can release additional enemies of nature, which can increase the naturally occurring population.

Chemical Control – Farmers avoid the use of broad-spectrum synthetic pesticides, which affect natural controls and promote the presence of secondary pests. Some synthetic substances are also allowed in organic farming, such as fixed copper (copper hydroxide, copper oxide, copper oxychloride, and copper sulfate), hydrated lime, hydrogen peroxide, lime sulfur, and potassium bicarbonate. There are several measures available to reduce pest attack includes crop rotation, variety selection, floating row covers, catch crops, and flamers, the introduction of beneficial insects, biopesticides, and inorganic pesticides. When considering a new type of product, discuss pest issues with your agronomists, IPM experts, and/or other existing organic producers so you can improve your chances of success.

The availability of organic supplies has improved significantly in the last few years. New pest control products including Bt, Spinosad, Kaolin clay are effective to organic farmers By monitoring the weed population, farmers will be able to improve their crop rotation and their control measures.

Key steps to successful organic farming

To make organic farming successful in the state, the government must work on three fronts – subsidizing inputs, providing incentives to farmers who develop organic inputs on their own, and creating marketing networks. In addition, the government can provide seeds, bio-input materials, etc., which are available in large numbers at TNAU. They can be distributed not only to organic farmers but also to conventional farmers. Once you see the results of using the latter organic inputs, in the long run, they too may turn to natural farming.

Schemes and subsidies for organic farming in Tamil Nadu

Special schemes should be devised to restore soil fertility in Tamil Nadu as high organic matter soils can facilitate the recharge of groundwater. Also, this type of soil requires less water for cultivation.

Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) – The government is implementing several schemes to promote the use of organic inputs in agriculture, such as the Organic Certification Center, and promotions of Organic Farming under Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) certification under PKVY.

Organic farming is promoted by the adoption of Organic Village by Cluster Approach and Certification Partnership Guarantee System (PGS) under PKVY. This is a three-year continuous program. So far, Rs. 7.60 crore has been spent to bring 1020 hectares under organic farming. In addition, an area of 220 hectares is being added under organic farming for Rs. 1.60 crore.

Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) certified organic products such as millets and pulses such as PKVY clusters are marketed under the brand name of Tamil Nadu Organic Production (TAP). Under PKVY, clusters have different sub-components such as mobilizing farmers, capacity building, purchase of organic inputs, organic input production units, certification charges, residue analysis, packaging, labeling, branding of cluster organic products, and farmer producer companies. / Formation of Value Addition Infrastructure through Farmers Producers Organization.

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) – Tamil Nadu is one of the leading states in India in implementing the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).

NMSA – National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) Promoting Organic Farming. The scheme aims to promote organic farming through a cluster approach under the Certification of Participatory Guarantee System (PGS).

Challenges for organic farming in Tamil Nadu

Key issues emerging in organic farming include low yields, increased soil fertility, and livestock integration, certification constraints, environmental factors, producer marketing, and policy support. It has been argued that organic farming is productive and sustainable, but that increasing scientific production requires strong support in the form of government subsidies, agricultural extension services, and research. However, organic farming has overcome many challenges, including;

The availability of information on changes in organic farming.
Proper training of organic production methods for extension staff.
Institutional support to help farmers in the production process but also marketing.
Investment in manpower
Facing low productivity outcomes, especially during the first years of transformation to organic farming, requires government funding to overcome this difficult phase.
An important issue in organic farming is time. This is not all the case, but in general, an efficient supply chain is needed for organic production and meat to reach the market faster.
Another major challenge of organic farming is pest infestation, which is as old as farming. Insects such as pests or insects are responsible for the destruction of crops if not controlled. For this reason, humans have long used chemicals known as pesticides to deal with them effectively. However, since many of these chemicals are not natural and toxic to the environment, they are not allowed in organic farming.
Organic producers find alternative and effective ways to deal with pests. Although pesticides are banned from organic farming, there are some pesticides from natural ingredients that organic farmers can still use. Other methods of dealing with pests include diversification of crops, employing traps, mating disruption, or the use of birds and other insects.