The distribution was carried out under the project “Waste to Wealth: Sustainable and Innovative Organic Farming Techniques especially for Women Farmers of the Peripheral Areas of RSP.” The beneficiaries were provided the materials to enable them to start vermicompost preparation and make productive use of organic waste in their own farms.

The initiative seeks to encourage the adoption of organic farming practices and promote the conversion of biodegradable waste into nutrient-rich manure. Besides supporting environment-friendly agriculture, vermicomposting can help farmers reduce their dependence on external inputs and improve the availability of organic manure for cultivation.

Notably, an MoU was signed between SAIL-RSP and NIT Rourkela on 8th October 2025 for a period of three years for implementation of the project. The project covers training and demonstration for 600 local farmers from four revenue blocks — Lathikata, Nuagaon, Bisra and Kuarmunda — on organic farming techniques, with special emphasis on women farmers. The project also envisages demonstration of techniques such as vermicomposting, preparation and use of bio-fertilisers and bio-pesticides, and seed treatment, through a third party. Free synthetic bags for vermicompost preparation are to be distributed to each trained farmer.

Government of India has encouraged organic farming in the country through the dedicated schemes namely Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY- Centrally Sponsored scheme, in all states & UTs) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development of North East Region (MOVCDNER -Central Sector scheme for North Eastern Region). Both the schemes aim at promotion of cluster/ Farmers Producer Organization (FPO) based chemical free, low response cost, sustainable organic farming and support farmers from comments procurement to market linkages. Organic Farming has also been supported under other schemes viz. Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), Network Project on Organic Farming under Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Third party certification of organic farming is promoted by Agriculture Processed Food and Export Development Authority (APEDA), Ministry of Commerce.

Management Agricultural National Institute of Extension (MANAGE), Hyderabad conducted impact study for the scheme Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) during 2017. It is reported that there was 10-20% reduction in cost of cultivation (cost saving) and 20-50% increase in net returns to organic farmers. Price premium( up to 30%) was also observed in some clusters, which were nearer to large cities and had good linkages with large markets.

In the last 3 years, 115314 and 2050 number of capacity building trainings/ workshops conducted for the farmers in the country under PKVY and MOVCDNER scheme respectively, while the no. of farmers participated in the workshops are 14.93 lakhs and 82294 respectively. In U.P 2300 workshops were conducted and 31000 farmers participated. Apart from states, National Centre of Organic Farming (NCOF), Ghaziabad, a subordinate office of Department of Agriculture Cooperation (DAC&FW) also conducts regular certificate course on organic farming (CCOF), trainings to farmers/ extension staff skill development training on Organic Growers & Vermicompost for promotion of organic farming and its techniques.

Under protected cultivation part of MIDH, help is also provided for creation of polyhouses which protects the plants from adverse climatic conditions and provides a proper amount of light, temperature, humidity, carbon-dioxide etc. to meet best yield with excellent quality. Since start of MIDH scheme i.e. from 2014-15 to till date an extra area of 2380.49 ha has been brought under Green house structures like polyhouses.

This information was given in a written reply by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in Lok Sabha .