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O ganic Fa ming in Ma a hwada Region: Challenges and i s Bene i s
M . Kisho B. Hoge1, D . Fa ah Naaz Gau i2
1Resea ch Schola , Dep . o Comme ce, D . B. A. M. Uni e si y, Chh. Sambhajinaga
2Senio P o esso , Dep . o Comme ce, D . B. A. M. Uni e si y, Chh. Sambhajinaga
Email: [email p o ec ed]
Manusc ip ID:
JRD -2025(I)-170951
ISSN: 2230-9578
Volume 17
Issue 9(I)|
Pp. 230-233
Sep . 2025
Submi ed: 9 Aug. 2025
Re ised: 20 Aug. 2025
Accep ed: 20 Sep . 2025
Published: 30 Sep . 2025
Abs ac
O ganic a ming in Ma a hwada o e s a sus ainable al e na i e o d ough -p one and inpu -in ensi e
ag icul u e. I imp o es soil heal h, conse es wa e , lowe s cos s, and suppo s u al li elihoods,
especially o small and women a me s. Despi e i s bene i s, adop ion aces ba ie s like yield educ ion,
weak ma ke access, and pe sis en wa e sca ci y. S eng hened policies and suppo sys ems a e i al o
scale i s impac on sus ainable u al de elopmen .
Keywo ds: O ganic Fa ming Ma a hwada Sus ainable Ru al De elopmen Soil and Wa e Conse a ion
Ag a ian Challenges.
In oduc ion
Ag icul u e o ms he backbone o u al li elihoods in India and he Ma a hwada egion o
Maha ash a is no excep ion. Howe e , he egion has been acing pe sis en ag a ian dis ess
due o ecu en d ough s, e a ic ain all, soil deg ada ion and o e dependence on chemical-
in ensi e a ming. These challenges ha e no only educed p oduc i i y bu also pushed many
a me s in o a cycle o deb and po e y. In such a agile en i onmen , he sea ch o
sus ainable ag icul u al p ac ices has become c ucial o ensu ing ood secu i y, economic
s abili y and ecological balance. O ganic a ming has eme ged as a p omising al e na i e,
o e ing mul iple bene i s by imp o ing soil e ili y, conse ing wa e , educing dependence on
cos ly chemical inpu s, and di e si ying a m p oduc ion. I is pa icula ly signi ican in
Ma a hwada, whe e smallholde and women a me s a e adop ing o ganic me hods o imp o e
nu i ion, esilience, and incomes. While he app oach holds s ong po en ial o sus ainable
u al de elopmen , i also aces challenges such as ini ial yield declines, lack o ins i u ional
suppo , and weak ma ke linkages. This pape explo es he ole o o ganic a ming in
Ma a hwada, highligh ing bo h i s bene i s and cons ain s, and sugges s pa hways o scaling i
as a model o u al sus ainabili y.
Re iew o Li e a u e
1. Singh and Thomas (2018) s udied he ole o o ganic a ming in d ough -p one a eas o
India and ound ha i imp o es soil e ili y, enhances wa e e en ion, and educes
dependency on chemical e ilize s. Thei esea ch showed ha o ganic a ming no only
bene i s he en i onmen bu also lowe s cul i a ion cos s o small a me s.
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Add ess o co espondence:
M . Kisho B. Hoge,Resea ch Schola , Dep . o Comme ce, D . B. A. M. Uni e si y, Chh.
Sambhajinaga
How o ci e his a icle:
K. B. Hoge, F.N.Gau i. (2025). O ganic Fa ming in Ma a hwada Region: Challenges and i s
Bene i s .Jou nal o Resea ch & De elopmen , 17(9(I)),230-233
O iginal A icle
Jou nal o Resea ch and De elopmen
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2. Pa il e al. (2020) ocused on Maha ash a and highligh ed ha women a me s adop ing o ganic a ming epo ed
be e household nu i ion and di e si ied incomes. The s udy emphasized ha communi y-based models like
a me g oups and coope a i es a e essen ial o scaling o ganic p ac ices.
3. FAO Repo (2021) no ed ha o ganic a ming con ibu es signi ican ly o sus ainable u al de elopmen by
linking ecological bene i s wi h economic secu i y. Howe e , i also poin ed ou challenges such as limi ed ma ke
access, ce i ica ion issues, and he need o s onge go e nmen suppo .
Objec i e:
To analyze he bene i s o o ganic a ming in Ma a hwada wi h espec o soil heal h, wa e conse a ion, income
gene a ion and u al li elihood sus ainabili y.
To iden i y he key challenges aced by a me s in adop ing o ganic a ming and sugges measu es o p omo ing
i s wide adop ion in he egion.
O ganic a ming in India:
O ganic a ming in India is gaining impo ance as a sus ainable al e na i e o chemical-in ensi e ag icul u e. I
emphasizes he use o na u al inpu s such as compos , g een manu e, bio- e ilize s, and c op o a ion o main ain soil
e ili y and ecological balance. India is home o one o he la ges numbe s o o ganic a me s in he wo ld, wi h s a es
like Sikkim, Madhya P adesh, Maha ash a, and Rajas han leading in cul i a ion. The go e nmen has p omo ed
o ganic p ac ices h ough schemes like he Pa ampa aga K ishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and he Na ional P og amme
o O ganic P oduc ion (NPOP). O ganic a ming no only educes en i onmen al pollu ion bu also imp o es ood
quali y, a me s’ incomes, and u al sus ainabili y.
O ganic a ming in Maha ash a:
O ganic a ming in Maha ash a is s eadily g owing as a me s look o sus ainable al e na i es o chemical-in ensi e
ag icul u e. The s a e has di e se ag o-clima ic condi ions, making i sui able o o ganic cul i a ion o co on, soybean,
pulses, oilseeds, ui s, and ege ables. Regions like Ma a hwada and Vida bha a e wi nessing inc easing adop ion due
o ising inpu cos s and equen d ough s. Se e al NGOs and a me g oups ha e p omo ed o ganic p ac ices,
empowe ing small and women a me s h ough communi y-based models. The go e nmen also suppo s o ganic
a ming h ough schemes like Pa ampa aga K ishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and clus e -based de elopmen p og ams.
Despi e challenges o ma ke access, ce i ica ion, and yield ansi ion, Maha ash a has signi ican po en ial o eme ge
as a leade in o ganic ag icul u e.
Impo ance o O ganic Fa ming
Ma a hwada is one o he mos d ough -p one egions o Maha ash a, wi h equen c op ailu es, declining
g oundwa e le els, and high inpu cos s leading o a me dis ess. In his con ex , o ganic a ming holds g ea
impo ance as i educes dependence on cos ly chemical e ilize s and pes icides, imp o es soil e ili y, and enhances
he wa e -holding capaci y o land. I also ensu es sa e ood p oduc ion and p o ides oppo uni ies o di e si ied
c opping, which is i al o nu i ional secu i y and s able incomes. Impo an ly, o ganic a ming has empowe ed
women and small a me s in Ma a hwada, enabling hem o adop low-cos , eco- iendly me hods ha imp o e bo h
household esilience and communi y sus ainabili y.
Types o O ganic Fa ming
1. Pu e O ganic Fa ming – This in ol es a oiding all chemical e ilize s and pes icides, and elying en i ely on
o ganic inpu s like compos , g een manu e, and bio- e ilize s. Some a me s in Ma a hwada a e g adually mo ing
owa ds his model o es o e soil heal h.
2. In eg a ed O ganic Fa ming – A mo e common app oach in he egion, whe e a me s combine o ganic p ac ices
wi h limi ed use o adi ional me hods. This includes c op di e si ica ion, use o a mya d manu e,
e micompos ing, and in eg a ing li es ock wi h c op a ming.
3. Clima e-Sma O ganic Models – NGOs like Swayam Shikshan P ayog (SSP) ha e p omo ed he One-Ac e
Model, whe e women a me s p ac ice mul i-c opping wi h o ganic inpu s. This ensu es ood secu i y, income
gene a ion, and esilience agains d ough s.
Bene i s o o ganic a ming in Ma a hwada egion:
1. Imp o ed Soil Fe ili y and Heal h
Con inuous use o chemical e ilize s has deg aded he soil quali y in Ma a hwada. O ganic a ming, h ough he
applica ion o a mya d manu e, compos , e micompos , and g een manu e, helps es o e soil nu ien s and
enhances mic obial ac i i y.
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Fa me s ha e epo ed be e soil ex u e and wa e -holding capaci y, which is c ucial in his d ough -p one egion.
2. Cos Reduc ion and Economic Relie
Fa me s in Ma a hwada o en all in o deb due o he high cos o chemical e ilize s and pes icides. O ganic
a ming educes his dependency by using locally a ailable o ganic inpu s, he eby lowe ing cul i a ion expenses.
Case s udies show ha inpu cos s d op signi ican ly when swi ching o o ganic p ac ices, imp o ing ne p o i s.
3. Wa e Conse a ion and Clima e Resilience
The egion su e s om ecu ing d ough s and deple ing g oundwa e . O ganic me hods imp o e he soil’s abili y
o e ain mois u e, educe uno , and minimize i iga ion needs.
Di e si ied c opping sys ems unde o ganic models a e mo e esilien o clima ic shocks compa ed o mono-
c opping o wa e -in ensi e c ops like suga cane and co on.
4. Di e si ied Income and Nu i ional Secu i y
Th ough mixed c opping and ki chen ga dening, o ganic a me s in Ma a hwada p oduce ege ables, pulses, and
ce eals ha ensu e household ood secu i y and p o ide addi ional sou ces o income.
Women-led models like he One-Ac e O ganic Fa ming Model ha e shown success in gene a ing s eady cash low
and ensu ing balanced die s o a ming amilies.
5. Women’s Empowe men and Communi y Resilience
O ganic a ming ini ia i es in Ma a hwada ha e empowe ed women by ecognizing hem as decision-make s in
ag icul u e.
Many women’s g oups and coope a i es ha e adop ed o ganic me hods, building communi y esilience and
inspi ing o he a me s o ansi ion owa d sus ainable a ming.
Challenges o o ganic a ming in Ma a hwada egion:
Ma a hwada is one o he mos d ough -a ec ed egions o Maha ash a, wi h ain all well below he s a e a e age.
O ganic a ming equi es e icien wa e managemen , bu pe sis en wa e sho ages emain a c i ical obs acle.
1. Ini ial Yield Reduc ion Du ing T ansi ion
When shi ing om chemical-in ensi e o o ganic a ming, many a me s expe ience educed yields in he i s ew
yea s. This discou ages adop ion, especially among esou ce-poo a me s who canno a o d empo a y income losses.
2. Lack o Ins i u ional and Technical Suppo
Ag icul u al ex ension se ices, o ganic seed a ailabili y, and a me aining p og ams a e s ill inadequa e. Fa me s
o en ely on NGOs o guidance, bu la ge-scale ins i u ional backing is missing.
3. Ma ke and P icing Ba ie s
O ganic a me s s uggle o access o ganized ma ke s ha ecognize and ewa d hei p oduce wi h p emium p ices.
Middlemen o en exploi a me s, and wi hou s ong a me p oduce o ganiza ions (FPOs), smallholde s ail o secu e
ai p ices.
4. Ce i ica ion and Policy Gaps
O ganic ce i ica ion in India is expensi e and bu eauc a ic, making i inaccessible o small and ma ginal a me s in
Ma a hwada.
Go e nmen policies and subsidies con inue o a o con en ional a ming and high-inpu c ops like suga cane, lea ing
o ganic ini ia i es unde unded.
5. Social and Economic Dis ess
The egion has one o he highes a me suicide a es in India, la gely due o deb and c op ailu es. While o ganic
a ming p o ides long- e m solu ions, he immedia e dis ess p e en s many a me s om expe imen ing wi h new
app oaches.
Bene i s s Challenges.
Bene i s
Challenges
Imp o es soil e ili y and wa e e en ion.
Se e e d ough s and wa e sca ci y.
Reduces inpu cos s, lowe s a me deb .
Yield educ ion in ansi ion yea s.
P o ides di e si ied c ops and nu i ion.
Lack o ins i u ional and echnical suppo
Enhances clima e esilience.
Limi ed ma ke access and low p ices.
Empowe s women and builds communi y s eng h.
High cos and complexi y o ce i ica ion.
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Conclusion
O ganic a ming in Ma a hwada p esen s a p omising pa hway o add essing he ag a ian dis ess caused by d ough s,
soil deg ada ion and ising inpu cos s. By enhancing soil e ili y, conse ing wa e , educing dependence on
chemicals, and di e si ying a m income, i con ibu es o bo h en i onmen al sus ainabili y and u al li elihood
secu i y. Success ul ini ia i es, pa icula ly hose led by women a me s, demons a e ha o ganic p ac ices can
s eng hen household nu i ion, empowe communi ies, and build esilience agains clima e change.
Howe e , widesp ead adop ion s ill aces signi ican ba ie s, including ini ial yield educ ion, limi ed ins i u ional
suppo , poo ma ke access, and high ce i ica ion cos s. Fo o ganic a ming o h i e in Ma a hwada, he e is a need
o in eg a ed policy suppo , imp o ed ex ension se ices, a o dable ce i ica ion p ocesses, and s onge a me
coope a i es. I hese challenges a e add essed, o ganic a ming can become no jus an al e na i e bu a co ne s one o
sus ainable u al de elopmen in he egion.
Re e ences
1. The Be e India (2021). How 1,38,000 Women Fa me s in Ma a hwada Doubled Thei Incomes.
2. Village Squa e (2019). Di e si ied O ganic Fa ming Can T ans o m Ma a hwada.
3. IndiaSpend – To galka , V. (2023). O ganic Fa ming Empowe s Widows in Maha ash a.
4. SOPPECOM (n.d.). Ecologically Sound Fa ming by Women in Ma a hwada.
5. ADM Asia (2024). ADM and SSP Collabo a e o Empowe Women Fa me s in Ma a hwada.
6. FAO (2021). The S a e o Food and Ag icul u e: Sus ainable Ag icul u e o Ru al De elopmen .
7. Go e nmen o India (2016). Pa ampa aga K ishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) Guidelines. Minis y o Ag icul u e &
Fa me s’ Wel a e.
8. NABARD (2018). O ganic Fa ming: Oppo uni ies and Challenges in India.
9. Down o Ea h (2015). Why Ma a hwada is Becoming a G a eya d o Fa me s.
10. Swayam Shikshan P ayog (2020). Women-Led Clima e Resilien Fa ming Model in Ma a hwada.
11. Singh, R., & Thomas, A. (2018). Role o o ganic a ming in sus ainable ag icul u e: A s udy o d ough -p one
egions in India. Jou nal o Ru al De elopmen , 37(2), 245–258.
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income and nu i ion secu i y. In e na ional Jou nal o Ag icul u e Sciences, 12(5), 56–63.
13. Food and Ag icul u e O ganiza ion (FAO). (2021). The S a e o Food and Ag icul u e: Making ag o- ood sys ems
mo e sus ainable. Rome: FAO.
