New certification agency to boost organic farming

Orissa is awaiting the accreditation of its certification agency- Orissa State Seeds and Organic Products Certification Agency (OSSOPCA) for promoting organic farming in the state in a big way.

“Our certification agency- OSSOPCA is under the process of accreditation of the Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). This will be a major milestone for getting our organic areas under certification program for better market strategy. Post harvest technology has made a substantial achievement in the growth of Indian agriculture and Orissa can facilitate various programmes in preservation technology of export oriented value addition crops”, said Balakrushna Rath, chairman of Agricultural Promotion and Investment Corporation of Orissa Ltd (Apicol).

He pointed out that organic cotton cultivation in the KBK (Kalahandi, Bolangir & Koraput) districts of the state has been a success story. There is a lot of scope for revival of spinning mills for producing the best quality of yarns for domestic as well as international markets.

Speaking on the occasion, Riddhima Thackar, chairperson (agro and food processing committee), Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), said, “The increased emphasis on organic farming has primarily arisen the world over, from an enhanced demand for organic foods in both the domestic and international markets. Various international studies have estimated that the world organic food market is today at an impressive US $26 billion (around Rs 117,000 crore) and is expected to grow by 20 per cent per annum in the future. For an agriculture-rich country like India, this indeed is a tremendous opportunity”.

“Organic Farming has grown by leaps and bounds in other parts of the world. I am given to understand that organic agriculture comprises 10 per cent in Austria, and 7.8 per cent in Switzerland. In Sweden, it is no longer a niche market, but a part of the strategy of overall development of agriculture. Argentina has 2,50,000 hectares under organic cultivation with 75 per cent of the production being exported.