Bamanwas Kankar Panchayat, located in Kotputli‑Behror district, has become Rajasthan’s first fully organic-certified panchayat and North-West India’s first fully organic village body.
The panchayat has achieved 100% organic certification under the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), marking a significant grassroots milestone in India’s shift towards chemical-free and sustainable agriculture.
Rajasthan Panchayat Organic Pledge – What It Means
- Seven hamlets under Bamanwas Kankar Panchayat have formally committed to:
- 100% organic farming
- Eco-friendly animal husbandry
- Complete elimination of:
- Chemical fertilisers
- Chemical pesticides
- Synthetic agricultural and livestock inputs
This represents a village-level institutional commitment, not just individual farmer adoption.
Certification & Institutional Support
- Certified by:COFED
- Provided technical guidance, compliance support, data collection and market linkage
- Certification Standard: NPOP
- Implementing Authority of NPOP: APEDA under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Community-Driven Transition
- The shift to organic farming was bottom-up, led by local residents and women farmers
- Key drivers:
- Soil degradation
- Falling groundwater levels
- Health risks from prolonged chemical use
- Farmers collectively took an oath to avoid synthetic inputs
‘Farmer-Friendly’ Outcomes Observed
- Environmental gains
- Increase in beneficial insects
- Improved soil microorganisms
- Better soil health and moisture retention
- Economic benefits
- Reduced dependence on costly chemical inputs
- Access to premium organic markets
- Livestock benefits
- Better animal health
- Safer, higher-value organic dairy products
Key Features
- Chemical-free farming: All crops grown without synthetic fertilisers or pesticides
- Eco-friendly livestock management: Organic and animal-health-centric practices
- Community-led model: Collective village decision, not a top-down mandate
- Institutional backing: COFED + NPOP certification
- Market linkage: Enables premium pricing and stable demand
Significance
- Soil & water revival: Helps reverse soil degradation and groundwater stress
- Farmer welfare: Lower input costs + higher income realisation
- Public health: Reduced exposure to toxic agro-chemicals
- Biodiversity conservation: Revival of insects and soil ecology
- Replicable model: A scalable panchayat-level template for sustainable rural development
National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP)
- Launched: 2001
- Purpose:
- Organic production standards
- Accreditation of certification bodies
- Promotion of organic farming & exports
- Implementing Agency: APEDA
- Importance: Enhances India’s credibility in the global organic market
Organic Farming
- Definition: Farming system that avoids synthetic chemicals and relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and natural cycles
- India’s Global Position
- 2nd largest organic agricultural land globally
- Largest number of organic producers (~2.3 million farmers)
- ~4.5 million hectares under organic certification (2023-24)
- State Leaders (Share of Organic Area):
- Madhya Pradesh – 26%
- Maharashtra – 22%
- Gujarat – 15%
- Rajasthan – 13%
Government Initiatives Supporting Organic Farming
- National Project on Organic Farming (NPOF) – 2004
- Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) – 2011 (low-cost certification)
- Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
- MOVCDNER – North-East focused organic value chains
- Unified India Organic Logo (2024) – launched by FSSAI & APEDA