India's Transition to Organic Farming Faces Significant Challenges and Risks
India is undergoing a significant transition from chemical-intensive agriculture to organic farming, a process that can take seven to ten years. This shift is fraught with challenges, including sudden drops in production, increased labor costs, pest attacks, and uncertain inputs. Despite these hurdles, organic farming is gaining traction globally, with India leading in organic cotton and millets. The country has one of the largest numbers of certified organic farmers, although many small farmers practice organic methods without formal certification. The Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) is widely used for domestic certification, while third-party certification is typically required for exports. The global organic food market has expanded significantly, with organic agriculture now covering nearly 99 million hectares across 180 countries, involving 4.8 million producers. 
