Rs 2,500 cr proposed for organic farming

In an effort to boost organic agriculture in the country, a sub-committee of the planning commission has proposed a fund of Rs 2,500 crore in the 11th Five Year Plan period (2007-12). Earlier, the committee had provided Rs 100 crore for setting up the National Centre for Organic Farming (NCOF).

The planning commission, however, is yet to consider the proposal.

Once the commission gives the green signal, a technical committee will decide on how to utilise the funds. The funds are expected to be earmarked for organic food production, setting up marketing networks and certification. It will also be used to spread awareness about the ill effects of using chemical fertilisers and the benefits of shifting to organic agriculture.

A sub-committee which submitted the proposal was headed by Tej Partap, the Vice Chancellor of Palampur Agriculture University in Himachal Pradesh, and included representatives from NCOF, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda) and the International Competence Centre for Organic Agriculture (ICCOA), an NGO-based in Bangalore.

Said Manoj Menon, executive director, ICCOA, "Organic products till now were meant only for super rich consumers. But, we are trying to change this perception by making it more affordable to the masses. This is possible only when we increase production and bring more area under organic cultivation. Higher allocation of funds will definitely help all stakeholders to raise their levels and achieve the desired goals."

The area under organic farming has rapidly increased from 76,000 hectares in 2003 to 5.28 lakh hectares this year, a growth of over 7 times in the last four years. Of this, more than 3 lakh hectares has been certified as organic by various agencies. Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Sikkim, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh are in the forefront of organic agriculture in the country.

The domestic trade in organic farm produce touched Rs 562 crore in 2005 and was estimated to have tripled to Rs 1,452 crore in 2006-07. Going forward, industry associations expect this market to grow at 30-40 per cent annually.

Currently, certified organic products are mostly sold through supermarkets and organised retail stores at a premium. There was a need to expand the marketing network in the next couple of years, Menon said.

TO promote organic products, ICCOA is organising workshops on marketing and holding buyer-seller meets with buyers from overseas. Starting from November 29, it is organising "India Organic 2007", the third edition of the international exhibition-cum-conference on organic foods in New Delhi. State specific events were also being planned separately, he added.