Every time I ask about PKVY they say it is cluster based. I farm alone, so does that mean I am out? What is a cluster and how is it formed?
PKVY is built around clusters because organic farming works best when neighbouring fields are all organic, otherwise chemical spray and runoff from the next field contaminates yours and breaks the certification. A cluster is a group of farmers in the same area who agree to farm organically together over a block of land, and the scheme gives assistance per cluster covering training, organic inputs, PGS group certification and some handholding for a few years. You cannot apply as a lone farmer for the cluster benefit, but you are not out, you just need to join with neighbours or an existing group, FPO or NGO that is forming a cluster. Go to your block agriculture office and ask if a cluster can be registered for your village this season. The number of farmers and land area needed per cluster is fixed by the scheme guidelines, and these have been revised over time, so confirm the current cluster size and per cluster assistance with your agriculture department before you organise the group.
In our village we got the patwari to help mark out a contiguous block and convinced the nearby farmers. The contiguous part matters, scattered plots do not work well because of spray drift.
Joined an existing NGO cluster instead of forming my own. Much faster, they already had the paperwork and PGS group set up.
The contiguous block point is real. Our first cluster had scattered plots and the neighbour's pesticide spray drifted onto our field, the appraisal team flagged it. We reorganised into one connected block and it was fine.
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