Ramana Reddy from Nagarkurnool has adopted organic farming 15 years ago.
His 30 acres include the 10 acres he had sold long ago unable to bear the costs of chemical farming, and bought again after he started making profits from organic farming.
“In the year 2000, I had grown 200 quintals of cotton, and after the costs of pesticides and chemical fertilisers, I was left with ₹11 in my hands,” he recalled.
With advice from friends and officials, he took to organic farming, and now he grows paddy, cotton, and chillies, all in organic way.
He has not even opted for BT Cotton, yet reaps 180 to 200 quintals of it, besides 25 to 30 quintals of chillies.
Success story
“I had sold my 10 acres for ₹95,000 in total. Now, I bought them back spending ₹35 lakh. Farmers and scientists from other states come to study my methods,” he announced proudly at the inauguration of the Telangana State Seed and Organic Certification Authority here. He expects the certification facility to improve the marketing opportunities for his cotton.
Requires patience
However, not everyone has such success stories. Rajyalakshmi and Sudha, growing mangoes in Keesara and Medchal respectively, are still struggling with farming sans chemicals. Venkat Reddy, another farmer from Nizamabad has not ventured to extend his experiment with organic farming beyond one acre, despite good results. Agriculture Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy urged the farmers not to get discouraged, as it requires patience to master organic farming.
National mission
Telangana State Government intends to gradually veer the farmers towards organic farming without it having adverse effect on foodgrain production.
Centre too is taking initiatives through its ‘Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojna’.
“Marketing and export opportunities will increase with the organic certification. Public health too will improve. Telangana is only second in the whole country in use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, which increases diseases,” Mr.Reddy said, after inaugurating the facility.
Secretary Agriculture C.Parthasarathi noted that organic farming is a comprehensive set of agricultural management systems, and not mere use of natural products. It involves treating the soil like a living being.
Certifying laboratories
He informed that the organic produce will be tested at any of the four NABL labs in the state, before being certified.
Noting that the world has about 350 lakh hectares of organic agriculture, of which 3.4 lakh hectares are in India, Mr. Parthasarathi said Centre and State governments are making joint efforts towards encouraging organic farming.
Director of the Authority K. Keshavulu said there were three attempts earlier to set up the authority, and that APEDA approval is expected for the newly established certifying agency.