Foodspert
 
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      Why Organic
           
      For decades, since 1950s modern agriculture contributed significantly first by raising the productivity of land resources and second by offering more variety, quantities and conveniences to the consumers. But very soon on both fronts it started to fail very miserably. While the productivity could not be maintained at farm level without substantially increasing the cost of cultivation, for consumers, it delivered food with many new forms and types of contaminations and adulterants, seriously affecting the health of the consumers. For many so called modern lifestyle diseases, the present day food is held responsible by the scientific & medical communities across the world.

      Organic has been an outcome of consumer concerns regarding the quality of food. Today conscious consumer is demanding and is willing to pay for the foodwithout contamination.      		  
         
       
         
      Organic is essentially, natural and is based on a philosophy that respects nature and its dynamism to meet all the requirements of present and future generations.

      India is blessed for many reasons. Despite the best efforts to introduce modern technology, we still have over 70 percent of our farming land which is still untouched by so called modern toxic inputs. Even where the modern inputs have been used, there is some one in the family who still knows ‘how to produce without the chemicals’. The small holding enables micro management, the very basis of organic certification in terms of practices and labor intensive operations. Adoption to organic on one hand enables farmers to produce on sustainable basis, for the consumers it ensures adulteration – contamination free food. The biggest input being introduction of organic certification management as per International Standards such as NOP of United States, EU Regulations of European Union, JAS Standards of Japan & Indian Standards – NPOP etc, the organic sector is growing by 300 percent every year.

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      Producer Perspective
           
      In many countries, organic agriculture and many of its components have been promoted in a reaction to the high external input based techniques ushered in during the green revolution, and consumer’s demand for better quality food. Generally, following issues have influenced the organic agriculture development:
           
        1. In many European countries, personal commitment of the farming community has enabled
          initial steps to become wide spread movements. It is important to note that individual commitment backed by financial strength has been crucial in the early stages to overcome the doubts that arose about giving up chemicals altogether. For very long, individual farmers continued with traditional practices, essentially chemical free farming now known as organic farming.
        2. The irrigation, new seed and fertilizers required high initial investments and, thus, were beyond
          the reach of majority of the small farmers. The emphasis on organic practices involving use of techniques such as nitrogen fixing crops and green manures, recycling nutrients through composting, deep rooted plants, avoiding soil loss, locally developed pest control measures etc. allows poor, risk-averse farmers to produce food and generate income for the families on sustainable basis.
        3. Pressure on cultivated land has led to soil degradation. In many cases marginal lands have been
          used for cultivation by utilizing heavy amounts of external inputs. In large areas of cultivated land environmental damage is being associated with ‘modern’ agricultural practices.
        4. The productivity of natural resources and income distribution in rural areas are closely interrelated
          affecting poverty. Wherever lands have become unproductive, it has led to income disparity. In many countries, farmers have opted for organic production system to free themselves from the need for buying expensive inputs.
        5. In India, small, poor and marginal farmers practice rainfed farming which does not require much
          of chemical inputs. These farmers thus qualify as organic producers.
        6. In many areas in India, the land productivity is declining, even with ever increasing use of external
          inputs. Such farmers on their own began exploring for alternatives and organic cultivation proved to be a viable option.
        7. Increasing cost of support at government level to agriculture in the country and low corresponding
          returns gradually led to reduced investment flows in infrastructure development by public sector, and also affected private investments. Organic agriculture with the potential for higher returns is expected to canalize new investments in this sector.
        8. Globalization and world trade regulations on one hand are expected to increase competition,
          but on other hand also may offer an opportunity to organic producers in India who have been traditionally practising organic agriculture for generations and so have a distinct competitive advantages as compared to their overseas counterparts.
           
      The concern for ensuring enhancement of agricultural output with due respect to ecological limits has further strengthened organic agriculture movement in the world.
           
      Consumer Perspective
           
        1. As early as 1980s, some super markets in the UK, US &other European Countries started
        stocking organic products. By 1997, one super market offered 182 product lines. This fast pace of rising demand has been instrumental in giving roots to organic agriculture development in the world.
           
        2. Increasing number of middle class consumers and their willingness to pay a premium for quality
        food has generated new demand for value added products. Processed farm produce is finding ready acceptance in the markets.
           
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