Several states, including Uttaranchal, Sikkim, Nagaland and Meghalaya, are planning a total ban on the use of chemicals in agricultural operations.

By declaring themselves totally "organic states", they hope to fetch premium prices from the domestic and export markets for their agricultural produce.

This was revealed at the ongoing three-day national conference on organic farming organised by the Horticultural Society of India in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the Lucknow-based Central Institute for Sub-tropical Horticulture.

Agriculture secretary Radha Singh pointed out that while Mizoram had already declared itself "totally organic", Sikkim would follow within the next five years.

Uttaranchal has established an Organic Commodities Board to promote organic farming.

Madhya Pradesh also has similar plans. The state government has identified about 3,300 villages where only organic farming will be practiced.

Horticulture Society president KL Chadha said India was among the 39 countries where organic farming regulations were in place.

Though the number of registered organic farms was only 5,347, environment-friendly agriculture was actually being practiced on a much larger scale in India, he said.

However, adequate awareness about the precise requirements and benefits of organic farming was lacking among farmers, developmental agencies and even many scientists, he said. Besides, there was no organised market for organic produce in the country.

The country will also have to organise the production of organic inputs, such as compost, vermi-compost, bio-fertilisers, bio-pesticides, etc. for use in organic farming. The export of organically-grown products from India started recently.