Organic farming has been steadily promoted across southern India under the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), with Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Telangana covered under the scheme since 2015-16. The programme provides structured financial support to farmers transitioning to organic practices, offering assistance of Rs 31,500 per hectare over a three-year period.
Of this, Rs 15,000 per hectare is transferred directly to farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer to meet expenses on on-farm and off-farm organic inputs, along with support for marketing organic produce.
Since the launch of the scheme, substantial central funds have been released to these four states, covering a significant area under organic cultivation. Karnataka has received the highest central assistance at over Rs 10,000 lakh, bringing nearly 49,100 hectares under organic farming.
Kerala, despite receiving about Rs 6,733 lakh, has recorded the largest area coverage at around 94,480 hectares, reflecting its long-standing orientation towards chemical-free agriculture.
Tamil Nadu has been allotted more than Rs 6,236 lakh, covering close to 32,940 hectares, while Telangana has received about Rs 3,577 lakh, with organic farming extended to around 8,100 hectares.
Under PKVY, farmers are eligible for benefits for a fixed period of three years. During the 2024-25 financial year, the scheme benefitted 11,630 farmers in Karnataka and 28,983 farmers in Tamil Nadu.
However, no expenditure was reported in Kerala and Telangana during the same period despite funds being allocated, resulting in no farmers availing benefits in these two states in that year.
Over the last three financial years and the current year, allocations under PKVY have shown varying trends across the region. Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have consistently received higher annual allocations, reflecting sustained implementation.
Kerala’s allocations have fluctuated, while Telangana has seen a sharp rise in allocation for 2025-26, indicating renewed focus on organic and natural farming initiatives.
The government clarified that Kerala is implementing the Bharatiya Prakratik Krishi Padhati for promoting natural farming, which functions as a component of the broader PKVY framework.
The details were shared by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ramnath Thakur in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, underscoring the Centre’s continued emphasis on promoting sustainable and chemical-free agriculture in the southern states.