Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) Advances Cluster-Based Organic Farming to Boost Farmer Incomes & Soil Health
SDG 15: Life on Land | SDG 2: Zero Hunger
Institutions: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare | State Agriculture Departments
The Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), launched in 2015 under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, continues to scale organic farming through cluster-based implementation. As of January 2025, over ₹2,265.86 crore has been disbursed, and 25.30 lakh farmers have benefited across 15 lakh hectares organized into 52,289 clusters. The scheme provides ₹31,500/ha over three years, covering organic inputs, training, certification, marketing, and branding. To facilitate market linkages, the Jaivik Kheti portal has enrolled 6.23 lakh farmers, local groups, input suppliers, and buyers. PKVY also leverages Large Area Certification (LAC) to fast-track certification in historically low-input areas, with states like Sikkim achieving full organic status under LAC.
PKVY aligns with India’s climate resilience, soil health, and public health goals by reducing chemical input use, improving ecosystem balance, and enhancing premium market access. The scheme’s integration of certification ecosystems (NPOP, PGS-India), digital platforms, and market linkages demonstrates a scalable model for sustainable agriculture and income diversification, a critical lever for agrarian resilience amid climate stress.
What is the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)? →
An initiative that promotes cluster-based organic farming, grouping farmers into geographically contiguous zones of ~20 ha to collectively adopt chemical-free farming practices, access certification, and connect to markets.
How does Large Area Certification (LAC) accelerate uptake? → LAC enables regions with low prior chemical use, such as tribal belts or hill districts, to bypass the usual multi-year conversion period and certify large tracts more quickly.
What is the Jaivik Kheti Portal? → A digital platform linking farmers, groups, input suppliers, and buyers of organic produce, facilitating transparent market access, direct selling, and value chain integration.
What are NPOP and PGS-India? → NPOP (National Programme for Organic Production): Third-party certification scheme meeting export-quality organic standards. PGS-India (Participatory Guarantee System – India): Community-driven certification suited for domestic markets, relying on peer verification.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How can PKVY further incentivize value addition (e.g., organic processing) in farmers’ clusters and link them to credible international markets to increase returns?
Follow the full news here: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2175205