Organic and Millet Promotional Initiatives of Government of Karnataka
The Government of Karnataka, realising the importance of organic agriculture as early as in 2004 brought
out a State policy on organic farming and has implemented several schemes and programmes under the policy
to promote organic farming in the State. Several programmes were initiated as organic farming addresses
sustainable food production, soil health, nature conservation, rural development and mitigation of drought situation.
The Government of Karnataka, realising the importance of organic agriculture as early as in 2004 brought out a State
policy on organic farming and has implemented several schemes and programmes under the policy to promote organic
farming in the State. Several programmes were initiated as organic farming addresses sustainable food production,
soil health, nature conservation, rural development and mitigation of drought situation.
The Government of Karnataka, realising the importance of organic agriculture as early as in 2004 brought out
a State policy on organic farming and has implemented several schemes and programmes under the policy to
promote organic farming in the State. Several programmes were initiated as organic farming addresses
sustainable food production, soil health, nature conservation, rural development and mitigation of drought situation.
Market Based Specific Crop Organic Cluster Development Programme was implemented in certified Savayava Bhagya Yojane project
areas with a focus on organic market based specific crops or commodity in order to provide bulk & continuous supply to meet
the market demand. Further, focus was provided to develop proper linkages between producers and consumers by strengthening
the supply chain mechanism on value chain mode by supporting activities related to production, collection, grading, value
addition, processing, packing, brand development, whole sale and retail marketing of organic produce.
Presently, Karnataka ranks tenth in the country in terms of certified organic area and fourth in terms of total certified
organic annual production (APEDA Statistics).
Savayava Siri Programme was implemented for the promotion of organic farming. Under the scheme, capacity building in
organic farming is provided to the eligible farmers of the state, along with the development of model organic farms and
organic seed production farms, desi vegetable seed production and local/forest fruit seeds/seedling production in the state
agriculture/ horticultural universities.
The Scientific Validation of Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) System was implemented as experimental trials
through the concerned State Agriculture/ Horticulture Universities in 10 Research Stations on Operational Research
Project (ORP) mode. Also, Chief Ministers Natural Farming scheme was implemented through State’s Agri/horticultural
Universities as farmers participatory research in 1000 acres farmer's fields under each of the five Agri/Horticultural
Universities.
