According to the Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority’s report, there is a 38% increase in total certified organic produce in 2016-17 compared to 2013-14.

The organic farming concept is gaining ground rapidly in India.

Veera Reddy, a resident of Aknoor village in Karimnagar district of Telangana, comes from an agricultural background. He served the state government as an electrical engineer.

But after his retirement, he decided to go back to his roots and take up traditional occupation.

Initially, he confined himself to his mango cultivation and two acres of paddy. But now there is no looking back.

“My friends in horticulture encouraged me into farming. During this time, I had learnt the importance of raising crops using bio-pesticides. This has impressed me a lot. Initially, for my one and half acre land, I had reaped 25 to 30 bags of paddy. Then I learned about raising sugar-free rice, Telangana Sona – this variety gave me good results and today I am raising seed quality variety using bio-pesticides.

Since rice variety requires more water, I am trying to raise this crop during rainy seasons. Last season, my neighbors’ crops were infested by mosquito byte but I am saved because I had used bio-pesticides. This year I am expecting 40 bags from my land,” Reddy said.

He is not the only one reaping the benefit. There are others as well who are reaping the benefit.

There is a 38% increase in total certified organic produce in 2016-17 as compared to 2013-14 as per Agricultural & Processed FooProductsts Export Development Authority( APEDA) report.