India has the maximum number of organic farmers in the world — at 1,599,010. Here are the Top 13.

◊ By Pure & Eco India (Images courtesy of ICCOA)

Note: To find organic products and organic ingredient suppliers in India, buy the Organic Directory 

In recognition of the extraordinary contribution of outstanding organic farmers, state governments and enterprises in the field of organic agriculture, the fourth edition of Jaivik India Awards was hosted in Greater Noida on September 7, 2023.

The function was organised by International Competence Centre for Organic Agriculture (ICCOA), the leading knowledge centre for the organic movement in India.

Manoj Menon, Executive Director & CEO, ICCOA, said on the occasion, “ICCOA, which was conceived in 2004 as a knowledge centre and representative organisation for the organic movement in India, has had front row seat in the evolution of the organic landscape in the country. We established the Jaivik India Awards in 2018 as an annual occasion to acknowledge, honour and encourage the nation’s organic farmers, as well as, other outstanding stakeholders. We are extremely pleased to present the awards in the fourth edition this year in Greater Noida.”

BEST ORGANIC/NATURAL FARMER (NORTH INDIA):

First Prize – Harsh Singh Dangwal (Haldwani, Uttarakhand). Dangwal practices Integrated Farming System in hilly terrain, where contour farming is practised. Rain water harvesting carried out from contour ridges helps in storage of water and increases ground water level. He also engages in fish farming for additional income. The Napier grass grown on his farm provides fodder for his cattle while also binding the soil.

Second Prize – Ram Bhajan Yadav (Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh). Yadav has a 1.2-acre organic farm. He converted to organic farming in 2019. He practices green manuring, has a vermi-compost unit, and he sells botanicals and compost for additional income. He also supplies organic fruits and vegetables to local retail stores as well as, directly to consumers.

Third Prize – Sanket Chauhan (Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh). Chauhan practices organic farming on his 8-hectare farm.

BEST ORGANIC/NATURAL FARMER (SOUTH INDIA):

First Prize – Laxmikant Hibare (Kalaburagi, Karnataka). Hibare was a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra of ICAR (Indian Agricultural Research Institute)  in 2022-23. He has imparted hands on training to school and college students on innovative technology in farming. He has been instrumental in motivating youth in Kalaburagi city to opt for organic agriculture/organic agribusiness as a profession.

Second Prize – Ramar Velsamy (Ramanathapuram, Melaramanadhi, Tamil Nadu). Velsamy employs indigenous drip irrigation method in his farm and uses a poly house solar dryer to dehydrate fruits and vegetables. He also supplies farm inputs and botanicals  to fellow farmers. He practices the integrated system of farming with poultry and animal husbandry.

Third Prize – Padmaja Ganipisetti (Yaddanapudi, Baptla, Andhra Pradesh). Ganipisetti adopted pre-monsoon dry sowing during the harsh summers, following which, soil texture and soil health improved dramatically. She cultivates in multipurpose crops using multi-layered cropping models.

BEST ORGANIC/NATURAL FARMER (EAST INDIA):

First Prize – Priyanshu Raj (Hajipur, Bihar). Raj likes to leverage technology in his farm practices. He has developed a convenient logistics system for easy transport of fruits and vegetables.

Second Prize – Antara Gohain (Nagaon, Assam). Gohain is Managing Director of Maha Laxmi Agro FPC Ltd, which comprises 1,000 organic farmers under MOVCD-NER (Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region). Her FPC practices crop rotation, uses vermicompost and also has an inhouse dairy unit.

Third Prize – Gautam Kumar (Nawada, Bihar). Kumar started natural farming in 2018. He is involved in making and supply of Panchgavya and other inputs. He keenly adopts new technologies in farm maintenance.

BEST ORGANIC/NATURAL FARMER (WESTERN INDIA):

First Prize – Akash Chourasiya (Sagar, Madhya Pradesh). Chourasiya has Adopted the multilayer farming technique on the principle of Biodegradability, Sustainability and Viability. He cultivates 4-5 crops on the same piece of land, one above the other. For ex, below the ground surface, he grows root crop (1st layer) Turmeric; on the surface (2nd layer) leafy vegetables like Spinach; on each bamboo (3rd layer), a creeper crop like bitter gourd; a 4th layer at every 15 feet’s distance, he grows a fruit crop like papaya or moringa.

Second Prize (Joint) – Priti Sumantrao Kadam (Majalgaon, Maharashtra). Kadam is trained under the Skill Council of India. She adopts a diversified organic farming system encompassing vermicomposting and pest management done exclusively through Nimaastra and Bramastra.

Second Prize (Joint) – Smt Indra (Pali, Rajasthan). Indra grows high quality Henna and other intercrops, marketing them to domestic companies. There is demand for her Henna abroad as well.

Third Prize – Rubi Pareek (Lalsot, Rajasthan). Pareek operates a community-based organic seeds bank. She practices a three-layer cultivation system of crops, herbal plants and medicinal garden. She sells herbs at the local, district and state level to wholesalers and retailers alike.

Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) involved in organic business from North-East Region and Himalayan States were awarded as well: Reangluang Organic Farmers Producer Company Limited, Tamenglong, Manipur, took 1^st prize; Zobawm Organic Farmer Producer Company Limited, Mizoram came 2^nd; and Bokakhat Agro Organic Producer Company Limited, Golaghat, Assam, was conferred with 3^rd prize.

Reangluang is associated with the MOVCD-NER scheme and focuses on the organic production of King Chilies, Turmeric and Ginger as their cash crops.

Zobawm’s major crop is Bird Eye Chilli. Its consignments are sent to USA, as well as, to domestic buyers.

Bokakhat Agro has an MoU in place with a ginger and turmeric micro processing unit assisted by Government of Assam.

FPOs awarded from other states included Attaluru Palem Organic Farmers Producer Company Limited, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh (1^st prize); Creative Shetkari Producer Company Limited, Borkhed, Beed, Maharashtra (2^nd prize); and Jaivik Avam Prakrutik Producer Company Limited, Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu (3rd prize).

Attaluru gives discounts to farmers on seeds, seedlings, organic manures and bio-pesticides. It is involved in the formulation of organic inputs.

Creative Shetkari  has its own cold storage unit and also operates an oil mill. It also has a gaushala housing Gir cows, with a large dairy unit.

Jaivik Avam is involved in the marketing of organic fruits, vegetables and spices.

The 1st prize for Exporters of Organic Products was awarded to Cultivator Natural Products, Jodhpur, Rajasthan; and 2nd prize was awarded to Ganpati Scientifics of Jaipur, Rajasthan.

Cultivator has excelled in R&D, processing, and manufacturing of herbs and botanicals.

Ganpati Scientifics’ manufacturing unit is managed largely by female staff, which comprises 80% of the work staff. The company’s products enjoy robust demand in US and Europe.

Among companies with Direct Farmer Projects (organic), Nature Pearls Private Limited, Haryana, was given the 1^st prize, with Sus Agri Development Pvt Ltd of  Bengaluru, placing second.

Nature Peals is organic certified by NOP/USDA, NPOP/EU ORGANIC, Bio-Suisse Switzerland and COR (Canadian Organic).

SusAgri, a small to medium size company, has developed over 5,700 farmers across 5 states in 12 years to be organic and certified as per NPOP, EU and NOP standards. The company buys directly from these certified organic farmers and exports to USA. The firm endeavours to improve farmers’ incomes and livelihood through short supply chains and access to markets. SusAgri is India’s largest supplier of high-integrity certified red chillies.

Companies with Domestic Retail Brands (organic) were also recognised, with Sowparnika Retail Private Limited, (promoter of the ‘The Organic World’ chain of organic retail stores) Karnataka receiving the 1^st prize; Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd (Amul) placing 2^nd; and Avani Organic, Karnataka receiving 3^rd prize.

Sowparnika Retail has over 15 organic retail stores in India.

Amul Organic is working on planning and execution of an Organic Cooperative at the national level.

Avani Organic gives its farmers 10-20% premium along with support services for seeds and transport.

Among firms marketing Organic Millets, Basillia Organics, Maharashtra, received the 1^st prize; Davanagere & Chitradurga Districts Regional Coop Organic Farmers Association Federation Ltd, Davanagere, Karnataka, received 2^nd prize; and Nithin Enterprises, Hosadurga, Karnataka, placed 3^rd in the category.

The Coop has its own brand of millet snacks, ‘SEE MI’.

Nithin Enterprises supplies millets and its byproducts to many retail stores in Karnataka and provides farm inputs to farmers at subsidised rates.

Among Organic Certification Agencies, Aditi Organic Certifications,  Bengaluru, Karnataka, was given 2^nd Prize , whereas the 1^st prize was conferred upon Reliable Organic Certification Organization, again from  Bengaluru.

Regional councils involved in PGS certification were also recognised for their excellence, with Organic Farming Organization, Tamil Nadu, receiving 1^st prize and Courtesy India of Mandya, Karnataka receiving 2^nd prize.

Courtesy India is a non-profit organisation, established in 1997 that works primarily in the domains of Gender, Water, Education, Livelihoods, Health, Energy & Environment, Disability, Technology and Agriculture.

Organic Farming Organization is a small farmer group certification programme in a tribal belt. It has published two valuable guide books on organic farming.

Among State Governments promoting favourable policies for Organic Farming in the North and northeast, the 1st prize was awarded to the Government of Uttarakhand. The 2nd prize in the category was awarded to the Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA) of the Department of Horticulture & Soil Conservation, Manipur; the 3rd prize was awarded jointly to the Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission (ASRLM) and SIMFED (Sikkim State Co-operative Supply and Marketing Federation Ltd).

The Government of Uttarakhand has been a leader in organic farming and has been promoting organic farming under the PKVY (Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana) and Namami Gange programmes. The state has its own brand, ‘Organic Uttarakhand’.

MOMA, as the state agency for implementation of Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) under Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, has been a facilitator for export of branded organic commodities.

ASRLM is a beacon of excellence in organic farming. Through targeted training, capacity-building, and farmer-centric interventions, ASRLM has catalysed a paradigm shift towards natural farming practices.

SIMFED has been recognised for its unwavering commitment to fostering sustainable agriculture across 19 states in India, empowering local communities, and elevating the economic landscape.

In the other states, the Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, for its initiative Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS) Guntur, Andhra Pradesh won 1st prize, with the Government of Maharashtra, Department of Agriculture, being placed 2^nd.

RySS steers over 8,50,000 farmers towards natural farming through community mobilisation fostered through women’s self help groups (SHGs), farmer schools, and community cadres. Community-managed natural farming, implemented by RySS, is the first of its
kind, with numerous regional, national, and international partnerships, with institutions of prominence.

Among Research Institutes working towards the development of organic farming in India, the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Dharwad, Karnataka, was conferred with 1^st prize; Navsari Agricultural University (NAU), Navsari, Gujarat, came 2^nd; and Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth (VNMKV), Parbhani, Maharashtra was given the 3^rd prize.

UAS is the first organic institute of India and has won many national and international awards. It has conducted research on various field crops and vegetables, as well as, on millets.

NAU has been practising organic farming on NPOP-certified land; it has framed various scientific production technologies and made 23 recommendations for various horticultural and field crops under organic farming.

VNMKV was recipient of the Green University International Award 2023. The university is conducting farming system comparison studies and trials in R&D plots.

Jury members for the awards included stalwarts: Gabor Figeczky, Policy Expert, IFOAM – Organics International; Sompal Shastri, Former Agriculture Minister of State, Government of India; Dr Bharat Bhushan Tyagi, Padma Shri recipient and celebrated Organic Farmer; Dr A K Yadav, Former Director of National Centre for Organic and Natural Farming; and Dr Gagnesh Sharma, Director, National Centre for Organic and Natural Farming.