Mains Practice Questions

Answer:

Approach:

• Explain in brief about the organic farming and carbon sequestration.
• Steps taken by Government to Promote Organic Farming in India.
• Linking organic farming and Carbon Sequestration.

Introduction:

• Organic agriculture is a unique production management system which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity, and this is accomplished by using on-farm agronomic, biological and mechanical methods in exclusion of all synthetic off-farm inputs.
• Carbon Sequestration is capturing and  storing carbon dioxide emitted from the global energy system.

Body:

Government Initiatives to Promote Organic Farming

Parampragat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)

• It is the first comprehensive scheme launched as a Centrally Sponsored Programme  since 2015-16.
• The scheme is implemented with a 90:10 (GoI: State Govt.) funding pattern in 8 NE states and 3 hilly states of J&K, Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand, 100% in Union Territory and 60:40 funding pattern in remaining states of the country.
• The farmer within a group can avail benefit to a maximum of 2 ha., and the limit of assistance is Rs.50, 000 per ha., out of which 62% i.e., Rs. 31,000 is given as incentives to a farmer for organic conversion, organic inputs, on farm inputs, production infrastructure, etc., shall be provided directly through DBT during the conversion period of 3 years.

Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region

• The scheme aims at development of certified organic production in a value chain mode to link growers with consumers and to support the development of entire value chain starting from inputs, seeds, certification and creation of facilities for collection, aggregation, processing, marketing and brand building initiative.
• Organic Farming compliments the Carbon Sequestration because it offers an sustainable alternative without using synthetic fertilizers with use of organic mulch. Organic mulching refers to covering the soil with any organic matter such as applying compost or farm yard manure over the soil surface followed by adding a layer of dry organic matter over it.
• This compost contains aligned beneficial microbes, where the dry matter is rich in carbon and the green matter is rich in nitrogenous substances. When decomposition of these components takes place the carbon nitrogen ratio in the soil becomes 10:1, ideal for the proliferation of microbes. This type of farming practices not only improve the soil fertility but also increase farmers’ income.
• Hence, Organic farming is one of the best ways of improving soil fertility which co-benefited the sequestration of carbon from atmospheric CO2.

Conclusion:

Governments should acknowledge Organic Agriculture at international level as an effective strategy to reduce greenhouse gases and sequester carbon in the 2015 climate agreement. They should help farmers adapt to climate change by promoting Organic Agriculture through research and extension services.