Maharashtra’s experiment of using organic farming as tool to tackle agrarian crisis draws attention

A successful organic farming initiative in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region, where farmers were facing a crisis leading to suicides, is now being expanded statewide. The project has enrolled 9,600 farmers and has seen no suicides among participating families. The initiative, called “Dr. Punjabrao Deshmukh Naisraghik Kheti Mission,” has brought about 12 lakh hectares of land under organic farming. Farmers have the option to choose different organic methods and are supported with training, input sourcing, and marketing assistance. The government aims to expand the project to 25 lakh hectares by 2028. Other states, like Karnataka, are also considering similar initiatives due to the high demand for organic produce.