India Creates Organic Division

NEW DELHI - Aug 25/04 - SNS -- The Indian government has created an Organic Farming Cell in the Department of Agriculture and Co-operation to implement the National Project on Organic Farming, a new scheme for production, promotion, market development and certification of organic products.

A number of horticultural products like fresh and processed vegetables and fruits and also tea, coffee, spices, cotton, oilseeds and pulses, etc., will be promoted under the Project.

There is a provision under the National Project on Organic Farming to appoint Certification and Inspection agencies to check organic farm products for domestic and export markets.

Agricultural Products Exports Development Agency (APEDA), being an Accreditation Agency, has appointed six certification and inspection agencies for certification of organic products for export purpose.

The total quantum of organic products exported during 2003-04 was almost 6,792 metric tons (MT), including: fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, walnuts, honey, tea, coffee, spices, groundnuts and cotton yarn.