Apeda on an Organic Drive, Plans to Double Exports.

To provide a boost to the organic products exports from the current level of Rs 530 core per annum to Rs 1000 crore by 2012, the government has decided to launch an awareness programme amongst the farmers and offer subsidies.

Stating this at the ASSOCHAM (The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India ) conclave on “ Organic Products:The Way Ahead,” chairman of Agriculture & Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA) Asit Tripathy said, “ On-and-off agriculture export policy shall create huge problems for the farmers and therefore there is a need for a policy which is consistent and forward looking.”

He further apprised that the task of converting chemical soil into organic soil had taken three years and if the policy changes were made mid-way, it would create problems.

Keeping this in view, he said the government had already permitted exports of organic sugar and edible oils, 10,000 tonnes each, and was open for considering the products which were certified as organics.

He further underlined that the APEDA was launching a drive of 100% organic products exports from the current level to Rs 550 crore per annum by 2012. He also made public the subsidies being offered to encourage the marginal and poor farmers’ community to undergo extensive farming from existing chemical farming to organic farming.

ASSOCHAM secretary general D S Rawat said when farmers were rushing to produce more and more crops for meeting the growing demand, producers had resorted to the lavish usage of pesticides to control diseases and insects’ attacks. But they must know buying organic products was a valid value addition to healthier living and reducing the amount of chemicals in food, clothes and cosmetics.

He called upon the scientific community to encourage farmers to look at the problem more realistically, organic food that was less expensive or cheaper food, so that India got more nutritious food which would be better for the environment and more economical for both growers and producers who could be motivated to grow commercially.

Source : fnbnews.com