State agriculture minister Balasaheb Thorat declared on Sunday that State will have organic farming policy within three months. The policy is in the making under a team of experts. Currently the state has 6.5 hectares of farm under organic farming and the addition of some 20 lakh hectares will be added to it in the next five years.

Thorat, along with State co-operation minister Harshvardhan Patil, was in the city to attend the Mahaorganic exhibition on Sunday.

While speaking with the reporters here in the city, Thorat said,

the team of experts is working on the draft and we expect this to finish within three months. The agriculture department intends to bring more and more land under the organic farming. It’s a low-cost option so monetary benefits for farmers are greater.

Earlier, chemical-based farming was promoted due to shortage of food. Though food security was achieved, excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides proved hazardous to common man’s health,” Thorat said, adding, “Organic farming is good for soil as well as human health. So the number of farmers following this type of agriculture should increase.

He further mentioned that to implement this policy successfully, they need suffice funds from the state as well as central government.

“\I am in talks with the chief minister for funds. Our ministry has demanded Rs Rs 100 crore for implementing the policy. Discussions are also on to create a special board for organic farming.

Supporting Thorat’s views, Harshverdhan Patil said that joint efforts are needed to promote the organic farming in the state. If they have sufficient agricultural products available, they need a market to accelerate organic farming.

He further declared that there would be a special center for organic farm produce in Agriculture Market Produce Committee in Pune. This center will be inaugurated in the beginning of January 2010.