Nature and man are interdependent; protection of the environment will

be in the interest of man himself. Mahatma Gandhi

Scope and prospects of Organic
Farming for export purpose

Ram Lal Choudhary

Div. Of Agronomy
 ORGANIC FARMING

 Organic farming is a production system that sustains the

health of soils, ecosystems and people (International
Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements, Gemany)
 Organic agriculture is a unique crop production management
system which excludes all synthetic off -farm inputs (FAO,
1993).

 Organic farming is a system which largely excludes the use of

synthetic inputs and rely upon crop rotations, crop residues,
animal manures, off-farm organic waste, mineral grade rock
additives and biological system of nutrient mobilization and
plant protection (USDA)
 History of organic farming
Origin: Asian countries

1905-1924: Albert Howard (British) worked as agrl. Advisor in Pusa documented

traditional farming practices, Book: Agricultural Testament

1939: Eve Balfour (England) Haughley experiment compared organic and conventional
farming, Book: Living soil

1940: Rudolf Steiner (Germany) Biodynamic agriculture

1940: Masanobu Fukoka (Japan)

1950: J.I. Rodale(US) popularize through organic gardening

1962: Rachel Carson: Silent Spring Effect of pesticides on environment\

1970: Global movements

1972: IFOAM
 Need for Organic Farming

World Food Summit, Rome, (1996) Food security is achieved when all people at all times
have physical and economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious food to meet their direct
needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life

Sabharwal, Secretary, APEDA (2002): Developed countries are dependent on developing

countries like India to the extent of 30-50% for their requirements of organic food products
and India should seize the opportunity to tap these markets
FAO (2002) Price premium of organic products about 20-30%

Organic farming is the only way farmers can escape from the vicious cycle of debt and a
negative economy. It is growing everywhere, because consumers don’t want to be poisoned
with toxic residues from agrochemicals. It is also necessary from the point of view of small
producers (Vandana, 2003)

Between 1998 and 2002, the compound annual growth rate of the organic food market was
17.7 percent. In 2004, the market for organic products was valued at US$27.8 billion, the
largest share of organic products being marketed in Europe and North America, followed by
Brazil and Middle East (IFOAM, 2006).

Cont…..
Cont…
 To restore our natural resources, to safeguard our

environment and to obtain pesticides-residue free

vegetables.

 It also reduces cost of production and helps the

farmers to get reasonable returns.

 Organic products fetches a premium price

compared with conventional products.

Objectives of Organic Farming
1. To produce food of high quality in sufficient
quantity.
2. To maintain and increase soil fertility.
3. To promote sustainable use of natural resources.
4. To minimize any form of pollution.
5. Minimizing the incidence of diseases and pests.
6. To increase soil biological activity.
7. To improve the availability of essential plant
nutrients.
8. To provide protection against soil erosion.
 Principles of Organic farming

Biodiversity
Diversification and integration of enterprises
Sustainability
Natural plant nutrition
Natural pest management

Kuepper (2003)
 Components of organic farming

1. Organic manures: FYM, biogas slurry, compost,

straw or other crop residues, biofertilizers, green
manures and cover crops, crop rotation with legumes.

2. Non-chemical weed control measures.

3. Biological pest management.

Organic Nutrient Resources
A. Organic resources of plant origin
Green manure
Crop waste
Agro-industrial by-products
Rural compost
City compost
B. Organic resources of animal origin
 Animal shed wastes
 By products of slaughter houses
C. Organic resources of microbial
origin  Biofertilizers
 Natural products as prototypes for
commercial insecticides
Source Prototype Commercial
products
Physostigimia Physostigmene Carbamate group of
venenosum insecticides
Chrysanthemum Natural pyrethrins Synthetic pyrethroides
cinerifolium
Bombyx mori JH-1,2 & 3 Insect growth regulators
such as JH-minics

Sesamum Sesamin & Sesamolin Sisamex

indicum

Reddy and Reddi (2001)

 Commercial mycoherbicides
Name of pathogen Trade Weeds controlled
name
Colletotrichum Collego Aeschynomene verginica
gloeosphoroides (USA)

C. gloeosphoroides LUBOA-2 Cuscuta sp.

(China)
Cercospora rodmanii ABG-5003 Eichhornia crassipes

Phytophthora palmivora De-Vine Morrenia odorata

Alternaria cassiae CASET Cassia obustifolia

Bipolaris sorghicola BIOPOLARIS Johnson grass

Balasubramaniyam & Palaniappan (2001)

 Plant metabolites (allelochemicals) and microbial
toxins used for herbicidal activity
Natural phytotoxin Plant or microbial source
Anisomycin Streptomyces sp.

Biolophos S. hygroscopicus & S. sp.

Cercosporin Cercospora sp., Pseudocercosporilla

sp.
Caffeine Coffee plants

Dhussion Sorghum plants

Tab toxin Pseudomonas tabacci

Teu toxin Alternaria alternata

Balasubramaniyam & Palaniappan (2001)

Scope of Organic Farming
 In India, the percent area under organic farming

is only 0.03% of the total area under agriculture

when compared to other foreign countries.

 India has large geographical and arable area.

 In India only 35% of cultivable area is covered

with fertilizers and remaining 65% of arable land

may be covered with organic farming.

Areas identified for organic farming in India

- Organic agriculture in wetlands

- Organic farming in protected forest areas
- Organic agriculture in biological corridors
- Vegetables and Plantation crops
- Hilly areas of North-east and Western ghats
- Rainfed areas

Nair (2002)
 Prospects of organic farming as against the
input intensive agriculture
Maintenance of centers of diversity

Revival of under-utilized species, varieties and breeds, often on the verge

of extinction
- Consumers demand for food with specific health characteristics
- Farmers demand for crop varieties productive under low-input and stress
conditions

Alternative systems of selection and distribution of organic genetic

resources

Nadia (2003)
 Major products produced in India by
Organic Farming
Type Products
Commodity Tea, Coffee, Rice, Wheat
Spices Cardamom, Black pepper, white pepper,
ginger, turmeric, vanilla, mustard, tamarind,
clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace chilly
Pulses Red Gram, Black Gram
Fruits Mango, Banana, Pineapple, Grape, passion
fruit, Orange, Cashew nut, walnut
Vegetables Okra, Brinjal, Garlic, Onion, Tomato, Potato
Oilseeds Sesame, castor, sunflower
Others Cotton, herbal extract
Land area, per cent area of total agricultural area and organic
farms in different countries

Country Land area (ha) % of Agril.Area Organic Farms

Australia 10,500,000 11.30 1,380

Argentina 3,192,000 1.89 1,900

Italy 1,230,000 7.94 56,440
USA 950,000 0.23 6,949

China 301,295 0.06 2,910

India 41,000 0.03 5,661

Egypt 15,000 0.19 460

Total 22,811,267 398,804

SOEL-Survey (2003)
Organic farmers world wide :2004

Organic farms/farmers worldwide = 55.84 million

Country wise farms/ farmers

• Italy 44,000 India 51,000
• Germany 16,000 China 12,000
• Indonesia 45,000 Japan 45,000
• Mexico 120,000 Thailand 29,000
• Uganda 34,000 UK 40,000
• Peru 20,000 USA 19,000
• Austria 19,000 Swiss 64,000
• Spain 17,000 Cuba 52,000

Note: Share of organics in global farm economy is over 2%

Global Organic Leaders

 - North America, Europe, Japan

- Upcoming leading producers

China, Brazil and India
 Organic Asia

 Asian market size : US$ 480m

 Key players- Japan, China, India,
Korea
 Key exporter– China
 Key importers; Japan, Korea, Taiwan,
Malaysia, Singapore
 ORGANIC STATUS
• Global : 24 mha (1.6% Ag. Area)
: Nearly 130 countries produce organic
product, Australia (10 mha) – lead
country
• Indian : 37000-41000 ha (SOEL survey),
(0.3% of Ag. Area)
: 2.50 million ha (APEDA)
(Including 2.43 mha of forest area with
wild herb & medicinal plants
Main ISSUES
• Standard
• Inspection,
Certification,
Accreditation
• Input
• Market
(Export/Domestic)
 STANDARD

: Globally 61 standards available

: Important Standard includes – IFOAM, CODEX, EU,
Demeter, JAS, Naturland etc.
: National Standard in India under NPOP (2002)
: Mainly “process” Standard, cover – cultivation,
Fertilisation, Pest/Disease management
: recently under review; Efforts for harmony with EU
regulation.
 CERTIFICATION Agencies in India
• 11 Nos.
• Ecocert (G) (Aurangabad), Skal (N) (Bangalore), IMO (S)
(Bangalore), SGS (S) (Gurgaon), Naturland (G) (Gurgaon),
Lacon (G) (Cochin), Indocert (S) (Cochin), APOF (Bangalore),
ISCOP (Coimbatore), IRFT (Mumbai), Bioinspectra (S)
(Cochin)
• Mandatory for export market
ACREDITATION
: Earlier 6 agencies: APEDA, Spice Board, Coffee Board,
Coconut Board, Tea Board, Cashew nut Board
: Now one body : National Accreditation Board (APEDA,
other Commodity Board and Ministry of Agriculture)
Limitation: i) Inspection performance not always good
ii) Certification cost is high
 Global Market (Export) India
Current market =26 BN US$ • 31 organic products currently
Annual Growth =15-20% exported
USA =11-13 BN US $ • No. of exporters = 69
Japan =350-450 MN US $ • Organic value (2003) estimated
Europe =10-11 BN US $ = US $ 15.5 million
(710 million Indian Rupees)
 Market Organic (Export) 2004

Kerala = 1232 Metric ton

West Bengal = 937 Metric ton
Karnataka = 476 Metric ton
Tamil Nadu = 471 Metric ton
Punjab = 541 Metric ton
Himachal Pradesh = 521 Metric ton
Maharashtra = 375 Metric ton
India Total = 6472 Metric ton
APEDA,
India: Exports of organic products to grow 100%: Apeda
 Past Export Demand Exported to:
Europe: Netherland, UK,
2003-04 15050 ton
Germany, Belgium, Sweeden,
2004-05 16930 ton Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain
America: USA, Canada
2005-06 19080 ton
Middle East: Saudi Arabia, UAE
2006-07 21523 ton
Asia: Japan, Singapore

(Source Org. Marg = 2002)

[In 2002, from a total food production over 200 million ton, India
produced only 14000 ton of organic food produces]
 Name of few Organic Exporters

• Sunstar overseas Ltd. Haryana

• Navdanya Trust, New Delhi
• FAB India Ltd., New Delhi
• Kashmir Apiaries Export
• Jubilant Organosys Ltd., Noida
• IITC Organic India Ltd., Lucknow
 Domestic Market
• Yet to be developed
• No market structure is there
• Emphasis on
(i) Creation of awareness
(ii) Procuder – consumer meeting, organisation of
organic bazar/hat/mela
(iii) Change of mindset
(iv) utilisation of spiritual group, health care group etc.
 India Organic – An overview
1) Advantage in climate – 100-10000 mm rain, hilly,
desert - diversive
2) Blessed with vast natural resources.
3) Area Under certified = 2.5 million ha.
4) Total certified product = 115,238 metric ton
5) Project certified = 332
6) No. of processing units = 158
7) Accredited I & C agencies = 11
8) Total Quantity exported = 6,472 MT (2004)
9) No. of products exported = 35
 Guideline of Organic Standard for
food process
• Handling/processing of organic products should be
optimized to maintain quality
• Pollution sources should be identified
• Flavoring extracts preferably be organic
• Product shall be protected with non-organic product
• Organic & non-organic product shall not be stored &
transported together.
• Special condition of storage permitted (controlled
atmosphere, cooling, freezing, Drying)
• Humidity regulation ethylene gas for ripening permitted
• Biodegradable packaging materials shall be used

(Packaging through product like benzooxazolyl,

methoxymethyl flourine etc. prohibited)
 Government Initiative
(As facilitator)
• NPOP programme (2000), National Standard, Accreditation,
Certification, Organic export through Ministry of Commerce,
APEDA.
• Development of Organic Farming Technology package by ICAR
• Launching of National Project on Promotion of Organic
Farming (w.e.f. October, 2004) (10th five year plan)
Capacity Building through Service providers
Setting up of vermiculture hatchery, Biofertiliser plant,
Fruit/Vegetable compost plant (25% Back ended bankable
project)
Human Resource Development through training, field
demonstration.
Setting up of model organic farm
Quality testing and input production technology
 Market development, publicity etc.
Budget for 2005-06 on Organic Farming under NPOF = Rs.27 crore
 Promotion for production and trade of
organic products in India

Planning commission (2000): Steering group on agriculture and organic farming as a

national challenge
MOA(2000): Task force on organic farming, DAC has formulated a scheme for
giving a major importance to organic farming by setting up a NIOF
MOC(2000): NPOP
National centre for organic farming, Ghaziabad
ICAR & SAUs
International Food and Vegetable Marketing Association in India
Association for promotion of organic farming (APOF), Bangalore
APEDA, Coffee Board, Spices Board, Tea Board, Coconut Development Board
Cocoa and cashew nut board
Agriculture Man Ecology (AME), Bangalore
Agricultural Renewal in India for a Sustainable Environment
(ARISE), Puduchery
All India Federation of Organic Farmers (AIFOF), Thane
30,000 organic farmers and 8,000 organic farms. In Tamil Nadu
alone, about 500 organic farms and 3,000 organic farmers
(Ranganathan, 2005) President of poison free food and VP of
LEISA
30 per cent of Indian farmers are organic.
Future prospects and potential of organic farming
1. Nutrients requirement are manageable with available
plant and animal residues resources.
2. Organic horticultural produce has great export
potential.
3. Organic farming is viable because input cost are cut.
4. For a speedy promotion of organic farming in
horticulture, organic villages and water sheds have to
be developed.
5. A good network of organic markets has also to be
established from both state and private sectors.
6. Laboratories to test residues and quality of produce
are needed urgently in adequate numbers.
Conclusions

 A large chunk of area in India, being organic by

default, can be brought under certified organic
crop production.
 Organic produce has better quality than
traditionally grown produce.
 A wide array of choices are available for
efficient nutrient and pest management under
organic farming.
 India is the emerging player in the world
organic production, promotion and in export.
EAT DREAM LIVE
ORGANIC ORGANIC ORGANIC