13 - Organic Farming Policy

Summary

Any policy on organic farming will have to take note of the standards that are set in their respective countries. In turn, the country's standards would be largely governed by the IFOAM and International Standards. The Government of India, while formulating National Standards (NSOP), has come out with a National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) and laid out certain policies. Since the certification of organic products is based on the processes of production, organic policy needs to be centered on standards for these. However, for promotion of organic farming, the policy followed by different states may differ. For instance, Uttaranchal has declared itself as an ‘Organic State’. Being a hilly state, production of the biomass required is comparatively easy and the soil carbon status being high, fertiliser application will not have any added advantage.

The Uttaranchal state government has promulgated certain policies such as banning burning of biomass, encouraging the growing of organic herbs and medicinal plants, creation of Farmer's Interest Group (FIGs) and Self Help Groups (SHGs) for availing financial assistance, and for providing revolving funds, technology, market facilities and so on. A policy to encourage compost production as an income generating activity linking the State Forest Department; creation of specialised training centres to impart training on organic farming to farmers, NGOs and Departmental staff; identifying certification agencies for group certification, whose cost is to be borne by the Government, are some of the other policies proposed.