A meta-analysis on economic performance of organic vis-à-vis conventional farming in India

India's agricultural sector ensures food and livelihood security for millions of rural households. However, the adverse effects of climate change pose a severe threat to the sustainability of food production systems. Compared to inorganic farming, organic agriculture offers scope for curbing the consequences of climate change by its resource-saving, emission, and cost-reducing potential. We conducted a meta-analysis by synthesizing results from 1407 pair-wise observations from 237 studies to analyze the role of crop, soil, climate, and region-specific factors that influence the performance of organic farming in India. Production disadvantage was recorded in crops studied under organic agriculture as compared to inorganic farming with yield reduction of − 3.6% and − 5.7% under on-station and on-farm studies, respectively. We found that irrigation, crop rotation, and soil texture are the major drivers of yield under organic agriculture with positive influence. Further, the adoption of organic farming leads to an increase in cost for rice (+ 11.4%) and vegetables (+ 14.7%) and lower net returns for rice and wheat compared to conventional inorganic agriculture. Widespread adoption of well-developed scientific package of practices may facilitate higher yields while adhering to organic standards. By embracing sustainable practices and leveraging available incentives, Indian farmers can contribute to a healthier and more environmentally conscious food system.