NEW DELHI (Commodity Online): India to take a leap in organic farming as the agriculture experts are of the opinion that India’s organic farming acreage to grow nearly ten folds to cross one crore hectares in next five years.

The farmers are too seen taking keen interest in growing organic products that can boost income as well as ensure better quality for consumers.

“Since the beginning of organic farming almost ten years back, acreage in India is still minuscule at 11 lakh hectres. I hope this will grow ten-fold in five years,” Mukesh Gupta, President, International Competence Centre for Organic Agriculture was quoted by PTI today.

The chemical-free and pesticide-free process of farming is growing at a rapid pace in India due to enhanced awareness among the people on the back of higher per capita income.

"Unlike in chemical agriculture, in organic farming you don't use anything from outside for production. Everything you use is there in the land. No chemical fertiliser, pesticide. This ensures sustainability of yields at no cost. Farmers are now more inclined to this mode of farming,” Gupta was quoted as saying.

Organic farming is successfully taken up in the states like Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Sikim, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Chattisgarh and Jharkhand. The Indian organic product market is currently pegged at Rs.1500 crore, which is expected to go up to Rs.10,000 crore over next five years. Meanwhile, the global market is over USD 100 billion.

The country exports organic food products worth Rs.350 crore every year and is expected to increase to over Rs.3,000 crore in coming years.

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