INDIA TO EMERGE AS MAJOR PLAYER IN ORGANIC
PRODUCTION & EXPORTS - RUDY
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON
ORGANIC PRODUCTS BEGINS
India could emerge
as a major player in organic production and exports in the world
market. The country has immense potential in this sector and the
government has put in place an accreditation system as per the
National Standards for Organic Products, which will enjoy reciprocal
approval from other international organic programmes. Shri Rajiv
Pratap Rudy, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, stated
this here today, in an inaugural address of the International
Conference on Indian Organic Products-Global Markets. The 5-day
(28th November to 2nd December) Conference
got underway which is being organised by the Ministry of Commerce
& Industry in association with Bio-Dynamic Association of
India. Shri Ajit Singh, Minister of Agriculture; Shri Digvijay
Singh, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh; Ministers from Sikkim,
Tamil Nadu, Assam and Shri Dipak Chatterjee, Commerce Secretary
were also present in the inaugural function.
Shri Rudy said
that the global trade in organic products was growing phenomenally
and the consumption of organic food is expected to touch 15% of
the total world food consumption by 2005. He referred to the report
of the International Trade Centre – "The retail market for
organic food and beverages increased from an estimated US $ 10
billion in 1997 to US $ 17.5 billion in 2000" and said it
augurs well for India. India enjoys traditional advantages coupled
with large agriculture base to promote organic agriculture, he
said. The Minister informed that under the initiative of APEDA
a pineapple processing unit was started in Tripura which was inaugurated
by the President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, this year.
The Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee, had released
the National Programme of Organic Products (NPOP) on 8th
May, 2000 and an ‘India Organic Logo’ was released by the government
on 26th July, 2002 which would be carried only on Certified
Indian Organic Products.
Shri Ajit Singh,
in his address, said that the indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides
had resulted in the degradation of soil and produce. Research
institutes should come forward to help farmers in making them
aware of the advantages and the latest trends in this sector,
he added. In his keynote address, Shri Chatterjee, hoped that
this Conference would provide an opportunity for understanding
the market potential for Indian organic products and also a platform
for interface between Indian organic producers, policy makers
and the international organic industry.
To showcase
Indian organic products to international buyers, an Organic Expo
is also being organised on 1st and 2nd December,
2002. The 5-day Conference would deliberate on themes such as:
India’s core competence in organic sector, Diverse marketing opportunities
in organic products, Alternative trade and organic marketing and
International cooperation for organic agriculture in India. Various
Commodities Boards like Tea Board, Coffee Board, Rubber Board,
Spices Board, Agricultural food Products Export Development Authority
(APEDA), Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA)
are actively participating in this mega event.
