Covid 19 pandemic lockdown had reiterated the importance of locally grown  native products including vegetables and grocery items. Prime Minister had given a call 'go vocal for local' and spoke about self-reliant Aatma Nirbhar India by encouraging local means of manufacturing including in agriculture sector.  September was observed as Nutrition month-Poshan Maah and a campaign was done on popularising kitchen garden with nutritious plants. Awareness was created about importance of organic farming and natural vegetables.

Organic farming encourage agriculture without the use of chemicals, fertilizers and pesticides. This will ensure healthier produce and will not cause any health hazards. India ranks 8th in terms of World's Organic Agricultural land and first in terms of total number of producers. India produced around 2.75 million MT of certified organic products which includes all varieties of food products like Sugar cane, Cereals & Millets, Cotton, Pulses, Aromatic & Medicinal Plants, Tea, Coffee, Fruits, Spices, Dry Fruits, Vegetables, Processed foods last fiscal.  The Agricultural and processed food products export development Authority APEDA, is implementing the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP). The programme involves the accreditation of Certification Bodies, standards for organic production, promotion of organic farming and marketing. As on 31st March 2020 total area registered under National Programme for Organic Production is 3.67 million Hectare.

 In Tamil Nadu, the horticulture department is giving incentives to farmers to cultivate organic vegetables. Farmers who cultivate vegetables are being given Rs 2500 per hectare in the state.  The incentive is given for vegetables like  tomato, brinjal, ladies finger, gourds,  beans  cabbage, cauliflower. Smt Padma Kiran a bank official says that she enjoys gardening and finds it refreshing to nurture kitchen garden. She says that she uses cow dung as manure and no chemical fertilizer or pesticides are used. She gets the seeds for vegetables like lady’s finger, bitter gourd from horticulture department.  Smt Arivuchudar said she is utilising her terrace to do organic farming. She gets vegetables needed for cooking from her backyard itself. Mango farmers in Srirangam Melur orchard are growing natural mango trees by adding dry leaves and organic manures. These mangoes are of great demand among regular customers. Local farmers are growing organic vegetables as it has got good demand among people. Leafy vegetables especially keerais and spinach are being sold in urban areas by women from rural areas. In villages,  neem leaves are used as natural pesticides and agriculture department is encouraging setting up of vermicompost pits to make the soil richer in nutrients.  The best benefit from  organic farming is availability of  healthy and safe food  in our  backyard. Covid 19 pandemic lockdown had led to scarcity of vegetables in many urban areas. In Trichy vegetable sellers from nearby villages are selling fresh leafy vegetables grown in their fields. Organic  farming will definitely ensure nutritious and natural food which will help strengthen self-immunity of the community and also conserve the mother nature from being  contaminated by pesticides and chemicals.

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(Release ID: 1661003)