Why is organic farming not picking up in India?
Firstly, there is little consumer awareness. Secondly, there is no proper infrastructure and marketing chain in place and retailers lack interest in organic produce. Most important is consumers' unwillingness to pay for organic produce. An International Competence Centre for Organic Agriculture survey said Indian consumers are ready to pay a premium of only 5 to 7 per cent.

Is export then the only option?

It's not routine for organic to get a bad press. But when quixotic officials turn it into an article of faith without doing the homework, the repercussions can be seriously debilitating. Take the

It is not a widely known fact, but 25 per cent of the total tea produced in West Bengal and Assam, and other northeastern states is produced by small growers. Their contribution to the total national

Arijit Bhuyan worked with the tea major, Williamson Magor, in Assam for 25 years before buying land and planting his own garden in 2000. Situated on 28 hectare (ha) near Silonijan in Karbi Anglong district of Assam, Bogamati Tea Estate has about 13 ha under tea. Arijit has also planted lemon grass, vanilla and Kaempferia galanga on his property.

Researcher prefer organic farming to chemicals and fertiliser

Hollagaru farmers reap rich dividends by going organic

In coastal Kerala, rice cultivation is alternated with prawn farming. The method requires no fertilisers or pesticides. But many farmers in the area aren t too keen on it. What ails the system? m suchitra and