The government has partially relaxed restrictions on exports of sugar, pulses and edible oils, produced without using chemical fertiliser and pesticides. A notification issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, DGFT has said that exports of organic cooking oil, sugar and pulses up to 10,000 tonnes each per annum has been allowed to promote organic farming. However, prohibition on export of edible oils is up to 30th of September this year will remain in force, but, the same will not apply to export of organic edible oils with a ceiling of 10,000 tonnes per annum. AIR correspondent adds that the government has initiated several projects for promotion of organic farming and the use of bio-pesticides and bio-fertilisers. Organic farming, which is taking slow but steady roots in the country, is practised on around 10 Lakh 80 thousand hectares of land from just 42,000 hectares in 2004-05. Government is giving special thrust to organic farming aimed at sustaining agricultural productivity in the long-run and to address soil health issue.