| The government of Karnataka and the Agricultural Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under the Union ministry of agriculture are the co-organisers of the event, which is being held for the first time in India. The four day event will be held at the famous Lalbagh botanical garden in Bangalore between November 4 and 7. |
| A series of 12 seminars will be held for three days as part of India Organic 2005. The event will highlight the present scenario of organic agriculture in India and also deliberate on improving the positioning of the Indian organic sector at the national and international level, added. |
| The event is also supported by the government of Switzerland through their Indian Organic Market Development Project (IOMDP) and by the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM). |
| Tej Partap, executive director, ICCOA said that the event will bring together on a common platform a host of organic food producers and buyers. The objective is to increase awareness of consumers, linking buyers and sellers, and strengthen and promote the domestic and export market for organic produce, he said. |
| Speaking to Business Standard, Partap, former vice chancellor of Himachal Agriculture University, said the event is likely to be attended by over 200 participants from all over India and abroad, including producers, processors, input manufacturers, exporters, importers, Central and state government organisations, certifying agencies, consumer organisations and other organic stakeholders. |
| "This event will be a significant step towards spreading the awareness about organic agriculture among farmers, processors and consumers. It will serve as a platform for the developed world which is looking to India as a major source for organic products," said Tej Partap. |
| India has 200 million potential customers for organic products. This would mean a market of a mind boggling Rs 2,000 crore waiting to be tapped. The world market for organic food ingredients alone is $35 billion, growing at more than 8 per cent per annum, he said. |
| Manoj K Menon, event coordinator, India Organic 2005 said eminent speakers from India and abroad will be participating in the seminar series. There will also be a workshop on organic cotton for a day to share the experiences of farmers from Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka in growing cotton organically, one of the most challenging tasks. |
| Thematic stalls and peripheral events including entertainment programmes and organic food courts will serve as added attractions helping sustain and heighten the interest of visitors to the trade fair, he said. |
| ICCOA, set up in 2003, is actively engaged in building the competence of individuals and organisations of the South Asian region in organic agriculture and thereby contribute to building ecologically, economically and socially sustainable agricultural systems. |
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