Car Nicobar and Nancowry Islands have taken a major step towards sustainable agriculture with 14,491 hectares now certified as organic under the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), government data has revealed. The achievement places the Nicobar group among the leading contributors to India’s fast-growing organic farming movement.
The certification comes under the Large Area Certification (LAC) programme, which promotes collective adoption of organic practices across entire regions. The move is part of the national effort that has brought 15 lakh hectares under organic farming and benefitted over 25 lakh farmers. Since its inception in 2015, PKVY has provided financial support of Rs 2,265 crore, with farmers receiving Rs 31,500 per hectare over a three-year cycle to aid the transition.
For the islands, the certification marks both an environmental and economic milestone. With unique biodiversity and fragile ecosystems, the shift to organic practices is seen as crucial for protecting local soil and water systems from chemical inputs. It also opens market opportunities for farmers, who can now access premium markets that value organic certification.
The Andaman & Nicobar Islands are already being recognised in the national narrative of organic farming. Alongside Nicobar’s achievements, Lakshadweep’s 2,700 hectares have been declared fully organic, while Sikkim continues to hold the global distinction of being the world’s only 100 per cent organic state.
Officials highlight that the Nicobar Islands’ inclusion in PKVY demonstrates a conscious effort to integrate remote regions into India’s larger agricultural transformation. Farmers here will benefit not only from certification but also from market linkages through platforms such as the Jaivik Kheti portal, which connects producers to buyers nationwide.
With 1.98 lakh hectares across India currently in the process of organic conversion, the Nicobar Islands’ success stands out as a model of how sustainability can be combined with rural empowerment.
