India: Organic farming update

India is bestowed with lot of potential to produce all varieties of organic products due to its various agro climatic regions. The market is growing steadily - both the domestic as well as the export market. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority APEDA informs about the current status of organic agriculture in India.

(APEDA) India is bestowed with lot of potential to produce all varieties of organic products due to its various agro climatic regions. In several parts of the country, the inherited tradition of organic farming is an added advantage. This holds promise for the organic producers to tap the market which is growing steadily - both the domestic as well as the export market. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority APEDA informs about the current status of organic agriculture in India.

Agricultural land

The cultivated land under certification is around 2.8 million hectares (2007-08). This includes 1 million hectares under cultivation and the rest is under forest area (wild collection). (Editor's note: Currently, according to the FiBL & IFOAM survey, India ranks 7th in terms of total land under organic cultivation).

Regulation

The Government of India has implemented the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP). The national programme involves the accreditation programme for certification bodies, norms for organic production, promotion of organic farming etc. The NPOP standards for production and accreditation system have been recognized by European Commission and Switzerland as equivalent to their country standards. Similarly, USDA has recognized NPOP conformity assessment procedures of accreditation as equivalent to that of US. With these recognitions, Indian organic products duly certified by the accredited certification bodies of India are accepted by the importing countries.

Production

India produced around 396'997 metric tons of certified organic products which includes all varieties of food products namely

Basmati rice
Pulses
Honey
Tea
Spices
Coffee
Oil Seeds
Fruits
Processed food
Cereals
Herbal medicines and
value added products

The production is not limited to the edible sector but also produces organic

cotton fiber
garments
cosmetics
functional food products
body care products, etc.
Exports

India exported 86 items in 2007-08 with the total volume of 37'533 metric tons. The export realization was around 100.4 million US Dollars registering a 30 percent growth over the previous year. Organic products are mainly exported to the EU, US, Australia, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, South Africa and Middle East. Cotton leads among the products exported (16'503 metric tons).

Source: APEDA Homepage, Organic Products Page, Download of March 15, 2009

Contact

Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority
Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India
NCUI Building 3, Siri Institutional Area, August Kranti Marg,
New Delhi - 110 016, India
Tel. +91 11 26513204 , 26514572, 26534186
Fax 91-11-26526187
headq(at)apeda.com

Information

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA): Homepage
APEDA: Organic products
APEDA: National Programme for Organic Production

India at www.organic-world.net

Organic-World.Net: Country backgound India