Is organic farming more expensive than conventional farming?
In Europe, the cost is 30 per cent higher than conventional farming because it requires more manual labour. However, if one looks at the environmental cost of conventional farming, then organic farming works out to be much cheaper and desirable in the long run. In Europe, such studies have already been conducted and the costs/benefits favour organic farming. In India, such research is still limited. However, as the labour costs are much lower, and the costs of inputs are reduced, the costs of organic farming will be at par with the costs of conventional farming. What does the government need to do to promote organic farming in India? Firstly, the government must improve the system of controls and enact regulations more efficiently. Secondly, farmers should be given some financial incentives to switch over to organic farming. The government must treat organic fertilisers and biopesticides at par with chemical ones. Policy-wise, if certain concessions or subsidies are given to the agroch
