Which of the following statements about organic farming in India is correct?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → India has a clear advantage in producing organic products for both domestic and international markets
Organic farming helps sustainable farming, and India has a clear advantage in producing organic goods for home and world markets.
Option (1) Organic food is generally cheaper than food grown with chemicals — Incorrect. Organic foods sell at a higher price, about 10-100 per cent above ordinary food.
Option (2) India has a clear advantage in producing organic products for both domestic and international markets — Correct. This is the point made in favour of organic farming in India.
Option (3) Organic farming suits India because it needs less labour — Incorrect. It needs more labour than conventional farming. That is why it suits India.
Option (4) Organic farming gives higher yields than modern farming in the initial years — Incorrect. Its yields are lower in the initial years.
NCERT (2026-27): “5.6 Sustainable Development and Organic Farming … Since organic farming requires more labour input than conventional farming, India will find organic farming an attractive proposition. Finally, the produce is pesticide-free and produced in an environmentally sustainable way (see Box 5.5). Popularising organic farming requires awareness and willingness on the part of farmers to adapt to new technology. Inadequate infrastructure and the problem of marketing the products are major concerns which need to be addressed apart from an appropriate agriculture policy to promote organic farming. It has been observed that the yields from organic farming are less than modern agricultural farming in the initial years. Therefore, small and marginal farmers may find it difficult to adapt to large-scale production. Organic produce may also have more blemishes and a shorter shelf life than sprayed produce. Moreover choice in production of off-season crops is quite limited in organic farming. Nevertheless, organic farming helps in sustainable development of agriculture and India has a clear advantage in producing organic products for both domestic and international markets. …” “Box 5.4: Organic Food Organic food is growing in popularity across the world. Many countries have around 10 per cent of their food system under organic farming. There are many retail chains and supermarkets which are accorded with green status to sell organic food. Moreover, organic foods command higher price of around 10-100 per cent than conventional ones.” |