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CAWACH
2020 JUL   28

Large Area Certification

2021 MAY 12

Preliminary   > Agriculture   >   Miscellaneous   >   State government schemes

Why in news?

  • Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare  has launched a quick certification programme called “Large Area Certification” (LAC) to harness organic farming.

About the scheme:

  • It has been launched by Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare under its flagship scheme of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojna (PKVY).
  • It is a unique quick certification programme  to harness the potential of organic farming in selected areas.

Problem of current certification scheme:

  • As per the established norm of organic production systems, the areas having chemical input usage history are required to undergo a transition period of minimum 2-3 years to qualify as organic.
  • During this period, farmers need to adopt standard organic agriculture practices and keep their farms under the certification process.
  •  On successful completion, such farms can be certified as organic after 2-3 years.
  • The certification process also requires elaborate documentation and time to time verification by the certification authorities.

Problem of Large area certification scheme:

  • Under LAC, requirements are simple, and the area can be certified almost immediately.
  • LAC is a Quick certification process that is cost-effective and farmers do not have to wait for 2-3 years for marketing PGS organic certified products.
  • Under LAC, each village in the area is considered as one cluster/group.
  • Documentations are simple and maintained village-wise.
  •  All farmers with their farmland and livestock need to adhere to the standard requirements and on being verified get certified en-mass without the need to go under conversion period.
  • Certification is renewed on annual basis through annual verification by a process of peer appraisals as per the process of PGS-India.

Prelims Question

Consider the following statements regarding Large Area Certification scheme:
1.It aims to encourage apiculture in the country.
2.It has been formulated by Department of Agriculture.
Which of these statements are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2 
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to prelims question