Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana — Organic Farming

What is Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)?

Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) is a Government of India scheme that promotes organic farming by supporting farmers to form clusters and adopt certified organic practices. The scheme provides ₹50,000 per hectare over 3 years — covering everything from converting to organic inputs to certification and marketing.

PKVY is implemented under the Soil Health Management (SHM) component of the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA).

Key Benefits

All payments are made via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the farmer's Aadhaar-linked bank account.

Who is Eligible?

You ARE eligible if:

• You are a farmer owning or leasing agricultural land
• You can form or join a cluster of at least 50 farmers with at least 50 acres of contiguous land
• You are willing to adopt organic practices for the full 3-year certification cycle
• You have an Aadhaar-linked bank account

You are NOT eligible if:

• You are not engaged in agriculture
• You refuse to give up synthetic pesticides/fertilizers during the program

Individual farmers cannot apply directly — the scheme works through farmer clusters registered with the local agriculture department or Krishi Vigyan Kendra.

Documents Required

1. Aadhaar Card — for identity and DBT
2. Land records (khasra/khatauni) — to prove ownership or tenancy
3. Bank passbook — Aadhaar-linked account
4. Cluster registration form — from the local agriculture department
5. Soil test report (if available)
6. Photograph of the farmer

How to Apply — Step by Step

PKVY is a cluster-based scheme. Individual farmer registration is done through the cluster/group.

Step 1 — Form or Join a Cluster

Contact your Block Agriculture Officer or Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) to:

• Find an existing PKVY cluster in your village, OR
• Form a new cluster of at least 50 farmers with ≥50 acres of land

Step 2 — Cluster Registration

The cluster lead (usually a Farmer Producer Organisation or progressive farmer) registers the cluster with the District Agriculture Department.

Step 3 — Individual Farmer Enrollment

Once the cluster is registered, each farmer submits:

• Aadhaar, land records, and bank details to the cluster coordinator
• Signs the organic farming commitment declaration

Step 4 — Training and Input Support

After enrollment:

• Attend mandatory training on organic inputs, composting, and Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
• Receive bio-fertilizers, vermicompost, and organic seeds

Step 5 — PGS-India Certification

The cluster gets certified under Participatory Guarantee System (PGS-India) — a peer-review based certification that does not require third-party agencies.

Step 6 — Receive DBT Payments

Funds are released in tranches over 3 years directly to each enrolled farmer's bank account.

What is PGS-India Certification?

PGS-India (Participatory Guarantee System) is India's own organic certification system for small farmers. Unlike costly third-party certification, PGS-India uses peer verification within the cluster. Once certified, farmers can:

• Label their produce as "PGS-India Organic"
• Get better prices at organic mandis and markets
• Access government procurement at premium prices

Check your cluster status at: pgsindia-ncof.gov.in

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can a single farmer apply without forming a cluster?

No. PKVY requires a cluster of minimum 50 farmers on at least 50 contiguous acres. However, you can join an existing cluster in your area — contact your Block Agriculture Officer.

2. I have only 1 acre of land. Can I still participate?

Yes. There is no minimum per-farmer land requirement — the cluster as a whole must cover 50+ acres. A farmer with 1 acre can be part of the cluster.

3. How is ₹50,000/hectare divided across 3 years?

Approximately: Year 1 — ₹20,000 (input + training), Year 2 — ₹15,000 (inputs + certification), Year 3 — ₹15,000 (inputs + value addition). Exact tranche schedules vary by state.

4. Can I use any pesticides during the PKVY period?

No. You must strictly follow organic practices. Use of any synthetic pesticide or chemical fertilizer results in loss of PGS-India certification for the entire cluster.

5. What happens after 3 years?

After 3 years and successful PGS certification, you continue farming organically but the direct financial support from PKVY ends. You retain the PGS-India certification and can sell as certified organic produce.

6. Is there a helpline for PKVY?

Contact the National Centre of Organic and Natural Farming (NCOF) at: dof.gov.in or reach out to your State Agriculture Department.

Official Links