National Symposium on Promoting Organic Products: Launch of ‘Bharat Organics’ Brand

GS Paper III Indian Economy

Context:

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation addressed the National Symposium on ‘Promotion of Organic Products through Cooperatives’ organized by National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL) to launch Bharat Organics Brand

The ‘Bharat Organics‘ brand of the NCOL was launched during the symposium.
The NCOL’s logo, website and brochure was also launched and NCOL membership certificates were given to five cooperative societies.
Six organic products under the ‘Bharat Organics’ brand were launched on the occasion.
- These products – tur dal, chana dal, sugar, rajma, basmati rice and Sonamasoori rice – will be sold through Mother Dairy’s 150 Safal outlets and online platforms.
About 50 percent of profits from sale of organic products through NCOL will be transferred directly to member farmers.

Organic farming in India:

India ranks 4th globally in organic agricultural land and first in number of producers as per 2020 data.
Sikkim became the first State in the world to become fully organic in 2016.
India has 27 lakh hectares of land under certified organic certification, including cultivable and wild harvest areas.
As per the official data, India produced 29 lakh tonnes of certified organic products in 2022-23.
Export of organic produce reached 3,12,000 tonnes in 2022-23, valued at Rs 5,525 crore mainly to the US, EU, Canada and other countries.

Schemes to promote organic farming:

Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): It aims at development of models of excellence in organic farming through a mix of traditional wisdom and modern science.
Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER): It promotes third party certified organic farming of niche crops of north east region through Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) with focus on exports.
National Food Security Mission (NFSM): Under NFSM, financial assistance is provided for promotion of biofertilizers.

NCOL provides a platform to all the organic farmers across the country and makes arrangements for marketing of their products.

It acts as an umbrella organization by managing the entire supply chain of organic products produced by various cooperative societies and related institutions across the country.
- It will undertake various activities like aggregation, certification, production, testing, procurement, storage, processing, branding, packaging, labeling, marketing, etc.
It has been established under the Multi State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002 with headquarters at Gujarat and National Dairy Development Board being the chief promoter.

News Source: PIB