Food and herbal medicinal items, produced through organic farming in the country, are doing wonders in United States of America (USA) and in several European countries following best quality of the items which attained certificate from Uttarakhand State Organic Certification Agency (USOCA).The agency issues certificates to the items, grown through organic method of farming, which meet international standards, after testing quality of the products through various methods. In 2012, USOCA issued certificates to different items, including honey, herbal and aromatic items, pulses, spices, rice sugar and soyabean.
As a result of certification, demand for different Indian items has increased internationally and certification by USOCA has added to India’s foreign trade. Supply of 91,061.358 metric tonnes of certified items, including medicinal and aromatic plants, pulses, spices, sugar and amaranth, to Europe, United States of America, Australia and Canada further added Rs2.46 billions more to the Indian foreign trade.
Deputy director USOCA Himanand Semwal claims, “This is contribution of USOCA in increasing India’s foreign trade by certification of the items produced through organic way of farming. USOCA’s efforts are saving fertile lands by promoting organic farming.”
He said that 80,584 small and marginal farmers, including 61,643 from Uttarakhand, across the nation have taken to organic farming on 62,122 hectare of land following efforts by USOCA. It has resulted in increased production of organic items. While total produce of organic items touched 66,367 metric tonne mark in 2011, it increased to 91,061 metric tonne. It showed that production of organic items was increasing constantly.
He claimed that farmers were being dissuaded from using the fertilizer by pointing out drawbacks of using fertilizers. Simultaneously, they are being promoted for taking to organic farming since it is cost effective and environmental friendly. Yield of organic farming is very good for health. He said that the USOCA ensured that certificates should be given to only quality organic products. This is the reason demand of these items has increased internationally as they were completely chemical free and good for health.
The USOCA’s efforts are on to enhance production of organic items further. It is taking steps to focus on the areas where chemical fertilisers have badly affected fertility of agricultural lands. It is functioning with an aim to encourage and enhance biological cycle within the farming systems, involving micro organism, soil flora fauna, plants and animals.
It is also promoting use of renewable resources in locally organised agriculture system, with focus on maintaining the genetic diversity of the agricultural system and its surroundings including the protection of plant and wildlife habitats. The agency also focuses on sustainable high quality organic production and thrust to achieve economically and environmentally sound production.