Maharashtra mission for organic farming

The Maharashtra government has decided to set up a mission for promoting organic agriculture in the State. The mission will also help create a value chain for distributing organic farm products. The decision to set up the mission was taken at the State Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar had declared a ₹100-crore provision for promoting organic agriculture in the last budget.

A press statement issued by the Chief Minister’s office said that the mission has been named Dr Punjabrao Deshmukh Organic Agriculture Mission. The mission will help distribute farm products such as fruits, vegetables and grains, which would be free from pesticides and insecticides.

In the first phase, the mission will be implemented in farmer suicide-prone districts of Buldahana, Akola, Washim, Amravati, Yavatmal and Wardha. The mission will focus on low-cost technology for enhancing from income, create a system for recycling of farm waste, create a marketplace for selling of organic farm products and explore export opportunities, the statement said.

Punjabrao Deshmukh was a veteran farmer leader of Maharashtra.