For people who assumed organic food was merely a passing food trend for a niche class that wouldn’t stand the test of time, the Goan Government might just prove them wrong. Soon, an influx of affordable fresh organic products will grace the counters.
Leading the way is the state Agriculture Ministry of Goa, creating a model that aims to bring organic foods straight from the farms to the stores. Clearly having taken notes on the environment and health benefits that come with traditional farming, the Government of Goa has announced a scheme as per a report in Times of India, to encourage farmers to go the organic way. The scheme will give assistance and wide scale subsidies to farmers as an incentive.
Due to the drastic damage caused to land and water resources due to the use of genetically modified models, which solely depend on millions of pounds of chemical fertilizers and carcinogenic herbicides to grow crops, the Government in Goa is turning over a new leaf, literally, by adopting an eco friendly model of farming, that preserves the sanctity of natural resources.

The report states that 50% assistance will be given on cost of organic inputs limited to Rs 10,000 per hectare and maximum up to 2 hectares or Rs 20,000 per beneficiary for all categories of farmers on the use of organic inputs in Goa. The organic inputs are organic fertilizers, bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides and bio control agents. Farmers possessing a valid Krishi card and cultivating a minimum area of 0.1 hectare in the state are eligible for this scheme.
Most consumers prefer fresh healthy produce to reach the masses as a whole as against a selective few consumers, who pay exorbitant prices to avail the health benefits of eating organic. The organic model is likely to be picked up by other states as it gives good returns and the organic produce even tastes better. Ancient methods of organic farming are seeing a comeback in pockets of India as they cause less damage to resources, retain the nutrients in the soil and increase the longevity of the farmlands.
The core philosophy that lies at farming organically is to use natural pest control methods such as Neem, Cow Urine and insect repellent plants. Natural fertilizers like the remains of plants, kitchen waste or recycled farm waste that seep into the soil as food for earthworms and other microorganisms make the soil fertile for cultivation.  
While the number of organic farmers and farms in Goa are expanding, other states like Sikkim have long been pioneers in going the organic way, Sikkim declared itself the India’s first independently certified organic state earlier this year.
Though there are contrasting views about Organic food, some think that it comes at a very high price and is sparsely available, “Organic is making inroads in Goa’s food market, but high cost and less availability means that it remains out of reach for the aam aadmi (middle class),”said Shoma Patnaik, a resident of Goa to Navhind Times.
“Growing organically is enriching the soil with natural nutrients. It is what our ancestors did and is not at all exotic, a lot of ado is made about the organic method of growing and it is made to sound very difficult and exotic when the process is actually quite simple,”says, Aldina Gomes in contrast to the previous quote.
The state assisted program called “organic inputs for farmers” is made with the intent to shun the harmful chemicals often used in industrial farming. “This is the first step we have taken in the direction of organic farming in the state. Hopefully, more and more farmers should adopt the practice of organic farming after availing this scheme,” said director of state agriculture program, Ulhas Pai Kakode to Times of India.

Going back to the roots of the traditional cultivation of crops, fruits and spices, bidding farewell to artificial ways of industrial farming is a very positive step. It could revolutionize the state of agricultural lands across India, curing it slowly but surely of the damage caused by chemical fertilizers over the decades.