Organic farming - Statistics

Why in news?

• In order to keep pace with the changing regulatory requirements for export of organic products to European Union, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) organized a webinar jointly with the Indian Embassy in Brussels and Denmark.

Production- Statistics:

• In 2020-21, India produced around 34 lakh  metric tonne of certified organic products which includes all varieties of food products namely Oil Seeds, Fibre, Aromatic & Medicinal Plants, Tea, Fruits, Spices, Dry Fruits, Vegetables, Processed foods etc.
• The organic production is not limited to the edible sector but also raw cotton, functional food products etc.
• Madhya Pradesh is the largest producer of organic food products followed by Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
• In terms of commodities, Oil seeds are the single largest category followed by Fibre crops, Sugar crops, Cereals & Millets.
• Sikkim became the first State in the world to become fully organic in 2016.

Export - Statistics

• US is largest export destination for Indian organic food products. It is followed by European Union. EU accounts for around 34% of the total organic food export
• Soya meal (57%) lead among the organic products exported; followed by Oilseeds (9%), Cereals and millets (7%), Plantation crop products such as Tea and Coffee (6%), Spices and condiments (5%)

National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP):

• In 2000, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry launched NPOP as the first such institutional mechanism for organic products in India.
• APEDA is the implementing body for the NPOP.
• The programme involves the accreditation of Certification Bodies, standards for organic production, promotion of organic farming and marketing, etc.
• Objectives:
  • Providing a platform or method that can evaluate the certification programme for organic agriculture and products, according to the criteria approved by the government.
  • Recognising the certification programmes of bodies that seek accreditation or certification.
  • Facilitating the certification of organic products in compliance with approved standards.
  • Helping the certification of organic products to be imported, as per the agreement of equivalence that is determined between the two nations, or in accordance with the requirement of the importing countries.
  • Promoting organic farming, organic processing and their development in the country.
• In 2001, the NPOP was brought under the ambit of Foreign Trade Development and Regulation (FTDR) Act wherein it was mandated that no organic products can be exported unless they are certified under National Programme for Organic Production.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Consider the following statements:

1. Madhya Pradesh is the largest producer of certified organic products in India

2. China is the largest export destination for Indian organic food products.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer