At present about 90 organic products in 15 different categories are exported and according to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) in 2008 organic product sales increased to $100 million. From 2005 to 2008 the export value quadrupled and by 2012 organic products export is expected to grow six to seven times faster and reach one billion US dollar mark as per the ambitious plan of the government. APEDA is the nodal agency of the government for promoting exports of organic products.

Currently, organic cotton account for 25% of the total organic products export, followed 20% share for organic tea, 18% share for dry fruits, 13% share for Basmati rice and 10% share for organic honey.There are, however, apprehensions that the share of organic cotton may take a beating in the near future as the government, through its policy measures, is aggressively promoting Bt cotton. Similarly, the plan to introduce genetically modified (GM) rice is likely to spoil the prospects of organic rice exports. The report of the National Commission on Farmers have already cautioned that GM rice should not be allowed to be cultivated near the zones earmarked for Basmati rice. The All India Rice Exporters Association has also appealed to the government to keep rice export zones free from contamination of GM rice.

Actually the area under organic agriculture in India is much more than certified. About 60% of the cropped area is organic by default and there is no assured irrigation. Intensive chemical agriculture is practiced largely in the country's 40% irrigated areas. The slow pace of certification of organic zones is primarily due to the pressures from the chemical fertiliser and pesticide lobby and the costly and complicated procedures for certification. However, APEDA has launched a group certification scheme to mitigate the problem.

The Advisor to APEDA, Dr PVSM Gouri while speaking at an event organised by the Indo-German Chambers of Commerce in Delhi on Thursday said that India was endeavouring at several levels to promote organic production, to facilitate its processing and marketing. The government was supporting organic agriculture in 26 federal states with a funding programme, she said In addition, a whole series of companies are already intensively further extending their organic products lines and presenting products which are tailored to European and US taste and requirements. The ranges have long since ceased focusing on high-quality raw materials in the foodstuff and textile sectors and are now also servicing the demand for convenience food and made-up products in organic cotton.

The state Indian organic product seal meets the high requirements of international organic products markets and is set to receive legal legitimization before the end of this year. 'However, the best precondition for the future of organic-based agriculture in India is the close linking of the ecological landscape with tradition and culture: hundreds of thousands of peasant farmers maintain this agricultural culture and view modern industrial agriculture and genetic technology with scepticism,' Dr Gouri said.

From November 18 to 20, this year Mumbai is expected to host two parallel organic expo namely the premiere of BoiFach India-2009 and the fifth India Organic Trade Fair. The co-organisers ot the trade fair duo is the International Competence Centre for Organic Agriculture (ICCOA). The Germany-based BioFach network will be extended to include also key raw material market.
The sponsor of the BioFach subsidiary in Mumbai is the IFOAM, which in addition to BioFach Nuremberg, is already the honorary sponsor of the four other international subsidiaries of the world's leading trade fair for organic products in Japan, the USA, Brazil and China. In 2008 the parent fair in Nuremberg along with its subsidiaries abroad brought together around 4,000 exhibitors and approximately 100,000 trade visitors.

'Local players and market experts from all over the world agree: the time has come to offer India's high organic products potential its own platform and provide the Indian market with an even stronger international networking. The merging of these two experienced partners will not only generate key impulses for the Indian organic products market. Indian exhibitors, international suppliers as well as trade visitors can concentrate on central organic products,' said the ICCOA President Mukesh Gupta. He is also the President of Petra Wolf and a member of the NürnbergMesse management board.#