COIMBATORE: In 2012, when eriophyid coconut mite infested coconut plantations, most of the coconut farmers decided to chop the trees off. K Ponraj Prabhu, a farmer from Pannimadai in Coimbatore district stopped the usage of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides on his farmland hoping that the trees would recover on its own.
Instead, he began using organic manure like green manure and over a period of time, not only did his trees recover but also the quality of the coconuts and soil improved. Since then he has been cultivating vegetables, fruits, fodder, coffee and coconut in the organic way and about five years ago, he had obtained a certificate from Tamil Nadu organic certification department (TNOCD). Just like him, about 6,000 farmers in the state have also registered 66,881 acres of area under organic farming, till date.
The area under organic farming in Coimbatore district has increased by 134.5% , from 28,514 acres in 2019 to 66,881 acres in 2020. This is the biggest conversion that has taken place in the past 13 years since the department was established to inspect and certify organic farming in accordance with the central government's National programme for organic production, said M Subbiah, director of TNOCD.
He also said they are planning to increase the area under organic farming and the agriculture department has teamed up with the horticulture department to encourage the farmers to join the organic farming movement. "As the certificate is valid in all the countries other than the United States, farmers who are exporting their produce to foreign countries are coming forward to get the certificate. Most of the farmers who had obtained the certificate are producing export value-oriented products like turmeric, moringa leaf, coffee and tea. Not just that, awareness level among farmers have also increased considerably," said Irene Priyadharshini, assistant director of agriculture, TNOCD.
Explaining that the Nilgiris is working to turn itself into an organic district for the past few years, she said the number of farmer groups who obtained the certificate is high in Nilgiris followed by Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri and Salem. "Coimbatore is high in case of individual farmers," she said.
Pointing out that they inspect the farmland every year to ensure organic farming methods are followed and cancel the certificate if it was found otherwise.
Many farmers are willing to adopt organic farming but are hesitant because of the time and effort it requires, but officials hope better awareness will make them change their minds.