Organic agri-biotech: Success engine for green growth and livelihood sustainability

Organic agriculture & rural development implies both the economic betterment of people as well as greater social transformation. In order to provide the rural people with better prospects for economic development, increased participation of people in the rural development programmes, decentralization of planning, better enforcement of agriculture & land reforms and greater access to credit are envisaged by the Government of India under its various schemes for rural development. The cooperative development has been associated with the best mechanism to address market and supply chain failures in organic agricultural commodities. The only caveat being that the formation of cooperatives has to be with the full involvement of members. Additionally, relevant tie ups and use of business principles to run and manage cooperatives professionally are important factors of success. Their role has been commendable and helped in making essential inputs availability to the rural masses. These need to be further strengthened.