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Abstract
The study has reported the present scenario about adoption and
awareness of organic farming as well as costs and returns of major crops
grown under organic farming vis-à-vis non-organic farming on a sample of
90 farmers (45 organic and 45 non-organic) selected from the Kashipur
block of Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttaranchal during the year 2004-
05. The study has revealed a fairly good adoption status with 36.51 per
cent of sample farmers engaged in organic farming. Cost of cultivation for
organic paddy over cost A1 and cost C3 has been found as Rs 18786/ha
and Rs 31651/ha and for non-organic paddy as Rs 19106/ha and Rs 35947/
ha. The yields from organic and non-organic paddy have been found as
26.86 q/ha and 32.74 q/ha, respectively. However, farmers could realize
relatively higher prices for organic (Rs 1380/q) than non-organic (Rs1161/
q) paddy. Net returns over cost A1 and cost C3 from organic and nonorganic
paddy have been found as Rs 20144/ha and Rs 7279/ha and Rs
21323/ha and Rs 4483/ha, respectively. For organic and non-organic wheat,
cost over A1 and C3 have been recorded as Rs 8653/ha and 17752/ha and
Rs 12220/ha and Rs 22932/ha, respectively. The wheat yield has been
found to be lower for organic (19.85 q/ha) than non-organic (28.12 q/ha)
farming. The difference between prices of organic (Rs 875.16 /q) and nonorganic
(Rs 780.24 /q) wheat has not been much wide. Hence, organic
paddy has been found more profitable than organic wheat. The study has
suggested organization of training programmes to generate awareness
regarding organic farming. Lack of inputs being a general problem among
producers, government should ensure timely delivery of quality inputs at
reasonable costs. Also, to encourage organic farming, market support
system need be strengthened.