The entire Lakshadweep group of islands has recently gained recognition as an organic agricultural area under the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) of India. The PGS is a procedure of organic product certification overseen by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. This announcement marks a significant stride in sustainable farming and could potentially boost the island’s economy.
Participatory Guarantee System (PGS)
The Participatory Guarantee System is a certification process aimed at confirming the organic nature of products, assuring that their production adheres to specified quality standards. The certification appears as a logo or statement on the product documentation. The policy targets farmers or communities capable of organizing and working as a group within a village or multiple neighboring villages. It pertains only to farming activities such as crop cultivation, livestock rearing, processing, and off-farm processing by PGS farmers of their products.
Lakshadweep: Leading in Organic Farming
Lakshadweep has become the first Union Territory to go fully organic, with all farming conducted without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. This shift promotes safer food options and environmentally-friendly agriculture. Previously in 2016, Sikkim earned the title of India’s first entirely organic state. Through certifications and declarations under the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (organic farming enhancement program), the entire 32 square kilometers of Lakshadweep was declared organic.
A Journey to Organic Farming
The transition to organic farming began when the Union Territory administration enforced a complete ban on sale, use, and entry of synthetic chemicals for agricultural purposes since October 2017. The vision was to transform the islands into a chemical-free zone.
Benefits of Organic Status
The organic status boosts marketing opportunities for products such as desiccated coconut and coconut milk, enabling farmers to demand a premium for their farm produce. The ‘One District One Product’ program aims to aid coconut farmers by identifying coconut oil as the product singular to the whole island, treated as one district.
The Cropping Pattern and Future Plans
Coconut is the sole major crop in Lakshadweep’s farming system. The coconut processing industry operates for approximately six months of the year, leaving the industry idle from May to December. The island administration envisages the introduction of dryers and other machinery to harness the nuts during the inactive period.
Organic Farming: Definition and Government Initiatives
According to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), organic farming constitutes a farming design and management system that avoids synthetic external inputs such as chemical fertilizers, pesticides, synthetic hormones, or genetically modified organisms. The Indian government has launched various initiatives to promote organic farming, including Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER), Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme (CISS) under Soil Health Management Scheme, National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP), and National Food Security Mission (NFSM).
Lakshadweep: An Overview
Lakshadweep, India’s smallest Union Territory, comprises 36 islands spanning over 32 sq km. The archipelago is divided into three main groups: Amindivi Islands, Laccadive Islands, and Minicoy Island, with Kavaratti serving as the capital and the principal town.
