Programme design
Uttarakhand is one of India’s lead organic-farming states and notified itself as an Organic State in 2018. The Uttarakhand State Organic Mission, implemented by the Uttarakhand Organic Commodity Board (UOCB), provides a cluster-level pathway to PGS-India and NPOP certification, supports bio-input units, builds farmer capacity and markets the produce under the UOCB-certified Organic Uttarakhand brand for hill millets, basmati, pulses, spices, soft fruit and vegetables.
Benefit structure
- Cluster-level certification under PGS-India (domestic) and NPOP (export) with certification fee borne by the mission.
- Bio-input units — vermi-compost beds, jeevamrit drums, sprayers and starter cultures.
- Cluster Resource Person (CRP) handholding and field audits.
- Market linkages through the Organic Uttarakhand brand, organic mandi platforms and partner D2C buyers.
- Convergence with PKVY, NMNF and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) extension.
Eligibility
- Uttarakhand farmer in a notified organic cluster (50+ farmer cluster, 50+ ha typical).
- Devbhoomi land record or notarised lease.
- Cluster MoU / FPO certificate (for cluster certification).
- Aadhaar-seeded bank account.
- Commitment to PGS-India / NPOP norms — no synthetic chemical inputs.
How to apply — step by step
- Identify or form a cluster of 50+ farmers covering 50+ ha of contiguous land in a notified panchayat.
- Approach the District UOCB Coordinator or visit uocb.uk.gov.in to register the cluster.
- UOCB appoints a CRP for the cluster; baseline documentation, soil-test and crop-mix declaration captured.
- Cluster transitions through a 1–3 year conversion period under PGS-India / NPOP audit.
- On certification, cluster produce is eligible to use the Organic Uttarakhand brand and PGS / NPOP labels.
- Market linkages with partner D2C platforms, cooperative outlets and government procurement (e.g. mandua, basmati) under premium price.
Latest changes (2024 — 2026)
- 2024: Cluster network scaled across all hill districts; reported coverage of ~1.5–2 lakh ha under organic cluster pipeline.
- March 2025: uocb.uk.gov.in cluster MIS upgraded with AgriStack Farmer ID and Devbhoomi integration.
- August 2025: Convergence with NMNF (National Mission on Natural Farming) and PKVY deepened.
- 2025-26: Exact FY 2025-26 outlay not published as of 2025-26 — figures tabled in Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha replies.
Common rejection reasons + appeal
- Cluster size below threshold: cluster with fewer than 50 farmers / 50 ha is sent back for consolidation.
- Land record dispute: Devbhoomi entries differing from ownership.
- Chemical-input use detected: PGS / NPOP audit detecting chemical-input use voids certification.
- FPO registration lapsed: cluster funding requires valid Producer Company / cooperative registration.
- Conversion period not completed: produce sold as organic before the conversion period ends is disqualified.
- Aadhaar — bank seeding failure: DBT credit fails on NPCI side.
Grievance: District UOCB Coordinator → UOCB Project Director → Department of Agriculture, Uttarakhand. Written appeal within 30 days.
How Organic Mission stacks with other schemes
Organic Mission is Uttarakhand’s state-level wrapper around the central organic-farming push. Convergence with PKVY, NMNF, Mandua MSP Procurement (for organic millet price premium), MIDH (organic horticulture), PMFME (organic processing). KCC-MISS, PM-KISAN and PMFBY continue at individual-farmer level.
Coverage statistics
Per UOCB and Department of Agriculture press notes, Uttarakhand’s organic cluster pipeline spans ~1.5–2 lakh ha cumulatively, with several lakh farmer enrolments and a sizeable produce volume marketed under the Organic Uttarakhand brand. Exact FY-wise coverage figures are tabled in Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha replies and the Economic Survey of Uttarakhand.