Registry of organic food a challenge

THERE IS a fear that this is going to set an inspection raj in the farm sector rather than work towards streamlining and solving farmers’ basic problems.

With only 24 accredited agencies for inspection and certification of only 0.5 million hectares of organic farms, the task before the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India to get farmers register their organic food is a major challenge.

The notification came into force from July 1. This is now placing the farmers’ produce directly in front of customers as the certification process will allow consumers to make an informed choice.

According to sources, the major reason for implementing this notification was that Indian produce was losing out in international markets where certification plays a major role.

With this notification, the government wants to ensure that standardized processes which have been set for organic foods of different varieties are followed properly.

The problem faced in te international market is determining whether the farm produce is truly organic or not, and that is becoming a major hurdle.

Farmers, on the other hand, are not able to understand the certification process.

Small and medium size farmers are registered under the National Programme for Organic Production and Participatory Guarantee System for India and have been selling their produce through these units.

Mr P.V. Sateesh, member of PGSI, said, “We have already gone through the certification process and are recognised by this body of the government. We are not able to understand the re-verification process.”