The creation of an agency for the scientific validation and certification of organic produce, introduction of diploma courses in organic agriculture in the two farm universities and providing support services to farmers for the switchover are the main features of the policy approved by the government to boost organic farming in the hill state as part of its efforts to promote sustainable and environment-friendly agriculture and horticulture. The hill state has vast scope for organic farming and there are some landlocked pockets in the interiors like Pangi and Dodra Kwar, where organic farming is being carried out traditionally. However, in the absence of scientific validation and certification, the produce cannot be marketed as “organic”. The farmers of such remote pockets will gain immensely with the creation of an accredited certification agency as the “organic” label will enhance the market value of their produce. Farmers will not be made to switch over to organic farming in one go. They will be encouraged to substitute chemical fertilisers with organic manure in a phased manner to improve the fertility of the soil and maximise circulation of plant nutrients. Cadres of scientific manpower with a thorough knowledge of organic agriculture will be built up for which scientists of the Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, and the Chaudhary Sarvan Kumar University of Agriculture, Palampur, will be carrying out exhaustive research in organic farming, besides introducing diploma and certificate courses in organic agriculture. Incentive-based schemes for farmers will include subsidy on inputs like seeds, organic manure, bio-fertilisers and bio-pesticides for strengthening organic resource base, capacity building through trainings, exposure visits, trials on farmers’ fields and support for adoption technologies like vermi-composting and preparation of organic inputs at farms. While the Himachal Organic Farmers Forum has already been set up, the private sector and NGOs will be encouraged to join hands to form a state-level non-government body for the organic sector. It will be an advisory body to steer and monitor the growth of organic farming. Standardisation of technologies of organic farming for different categories of crops, farmers, farming systems, resource bases and agro-ecological zones, selection and breeding of suitable varieties for organic farming, development of nutrient management protocols with rotations, nutrient management strategies and on-farm input management with locally available resources, organic-compliant plant-protection measures, identification of suitable varieties from the existing pool of crops and varieties for optimum output, integration of animals with cropping systems and development of appropriate machines, tools and machine-driven, bullock-driven devices will be pursued on the technological front. What it Entails An agency for the scientific validation and certification of organic produce to be set up Diploma courses in organic agriculture to be introduced in two farm universities Farmers will not be made to switch over to organic farming in one go They will be encouraged to substitute chemical fertilisers with organic manure in a phased manner to improve the fertility of the soil