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| Scaling Organic Fruit Production For Sustainable Agriculture, Farmer Income, And Public Health | | | PROF. (Dr.) PARSHANT BAKSHI | 1/28/2026 10:16:41 PM |
| Organic fruit production presents a strategic opportunity to address three interconnected national priorities: farmer income enhancement, environmental sustainability, and food safety. With rising concerns over soil degradation, chemical residues in fruits, and climate vulnerability, a policy shift toward organic and natural fruit-based systems can deliver long-term economic and ecological benefits.
India is among the global leaders in organic agriculture by number of producers, yet organic fruit cultivation remains underexploited despite high domestic and export demand.
The targeted policy interventions can unlock this potential.
1. Problem Statement
Despite advances in horticulture, conventional fruit production systems face critical challenges:
a) Soil and Environmental degradation
Over 60% of Indian agricultural soils show low organic carbon levels.
The excessive chemical fertilizer use has reduced soil microbial activity and water-holding capacity. Horticulture belts report increasing pesticide contamination of soil and water bodies.
b) Human health and Food safety concerns
Fruits are often consumed fresh, increasing exposure to pesticide residues.
The monitoring studies frequently detect residues above permissible limits in market fruits. A rising public awareness has led to increased demand for residue-free and certified organic fruits.
c) Economic Stress on Farmers
Cost of cultivation in fruit crops has increased by 25-40% over the last decade, primarily due to fertilizers, pesticides, and labour.
A profit margins in conventional orchards are shrinking, particularly for small and marginal farmers.
2. Why Focus on Organic Fruit Production?
Fruit crops are uniquely positioned for organic transition due to the following advantages:
Parameter Organic Fruit Systems
Market price 20–50% premium over conventional fruits
Input dependency Low (on-farm inputs)
Climate resilience High
Export potential Strong
Soil health impact Regenerative
Consumer trend
The key market question has shifted from “How sweet is the fruit?” to “How safe is the fruit?”
3. Evidence and Data Snapshot
India has ~2.8 million hectares under organic certification (including wild harvest).
India ranks 1st globally in number of organic producers. The domestic organic food market is growing at 20–25% annually.
The Global organic food market exceeded USD 120 billion, with fruits among the fastest-growing segments.
Organic orchards show
• 15–30% lower input costs after the conversion period
• Improved yield stability after 3–4 years
• Higher benefit–cost ratios in the long term
4. Policy Gaps
Despite strong potential, organic fruit production faces systemic constraints which includes:
• Limited crop-specific organic packages of practices
• Weak farmer-level certification support
• Inadequate organic value chains for fruits
• Insufficient price assurance mechanisms
• Fragmented training and extension efforts
5. Policy Recommendations
a. Develop Crop-specific Organic Fruit missions
• Separate sub-missions for mango, apple, citrus, aonla, walnut, banana, and minor fruits
• Region-specific organic production models
b. Strengthen Soil-centric incentives
• Incentivize on-farm composting, bio-input units, and mulching
• Promote carbon-based payments for soil organic matter improvement
c. Support Transition period (3 Years)
• Direct income support during organic conversion
• Yield-risk mitigation through special insurance products
d. Simplify and subsidize certification
• Group certification for FPOs and clusters
• Digital traceability platforms linked to markets
e. Build Organic Fruit Value Chains
• Dedicated organic fruit mandis
• Cold chain and storage for organic produce
• Branding and GI tagging for regional organic fruits
f. Integrate Organic Fruits into Public Procurement
• Inclusion in mid-day meals, hospitals, and government institutions
• Priority procurement from certified farmer groups
6. Role of Institutions
Institution Key Role
Agricultural Universities Technology validation, training
KVKs On-field demonstrations
State Governments Policy support and incentives
Farmer Producer Organizations Aggregation and marketing
Private Sector Branding and exports
7. Expected Outcomes (5–7 Years)
• 25–30% increase in net farmer income in organic fruit clusters
• Improved soil organic carbon and water-use efficiency
• Reduced chemical load in food systems
• Enhanced export earnings from organic fruits
• Improved public health outcomes
8. Conclusion
Organic fruit production aligns seamlessly with national goals of doubling farmer income, climate-resilient agriculture, and safe food systems. A strategic policy support can transform organic fruit farming from a niche practice into a mainstream, scalable, and sustainable agricultural model.
“An agreement made with nature is never a losing deal.”
9. Key Policy Message
Investing in organic fruit production is not a cost-it is a long-term investment in soil, farmers, health, and national food security.
The author of this article is Project Coordinator, HADP Project No. 16 on Alternate Agriculture System for Sustainability and Head, Division of Fruit Science, SKUAST-Jammu |
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