organic farming newsletter - National Centre of Organic Farming

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ORGANIC FARMING NEWSLETTER
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Vol. 2 No. 3 September 2006
eq[; eq[; laiknd laiknd laiknd Chief Editor
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Dr. P. Bhattacharyya
funs'kd Director
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NCOF, Ghaziabad
laiknd laiknd Editor
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Dr. A.K. Yadav
{ks=h; funs'kd Regional Director
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RCOF, Nagpur
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Dr. D. Kumar
mi funs'kd izf'k{k.k Dy. Director (Training)
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NCOF, Ghaziabad
izdk'ku izdk'ku lgk;d lgk;d Publication Assistant
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Dr. Sarita Mowade
{ks=h; tSfod [ksrh dsUn] ukxiqj RCOF, Nagpur
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Hari Bhajan
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lykgdkj Advisor
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Additional Commissioner (INM)
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Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Krishi
Bhavan, New Delhi
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Organic Farming in Sikkim
S.K. Sinha
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Vermicompost Improves Productivity and
Quality of Nagpur Mandarin
Rammurthi et al
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Organic Rice – A Success Story
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India Organic News
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India Certified Organic
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Global Organic
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National and International Evenets
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Workshop on Organic Package of
Practices
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Seminar /Conferences under National
Project on Organic Farming
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National Project on Organic Farming
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Book Reviews
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Organic Farming Newsletter (OFNL) is a multilingual quarterly publication under National
Project of Organic Farming. Articles having direct relevance to organic farming technology
and its regulatory mechanism, development of package of practices, success stories, news
related to conferences, seminars etc, and national and international events are especially
welcome. Opinions expressed in articles published in OFNL are those of the author(s) and
should not be attributed to the publisher.
Organic Farming Newsletter, September 2006
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tSfod [ksrh lwpuk i= 2¼3½
laikndh;
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laikndh; From Editor's Desk
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Dear Readers
With wider acceptability of organic farming among farmers, there is an urgent
need for systematic documentation of organic packages of different crops suited
to different ecological regions. Experiences of successful organic farmers also
need to be incorporated and promoted. Food and Agriculture organization (FAO)
and National Centre of Organic Farming (NCOF) are trying to compile first such
document, which is likely to be published by October 2006. I call upon the
farmers, scientists and organic farming promoters to share more and more of such
knowledge, generated by our field scientists with the readers of this Newsletter.
Certified organic area, an index of growth, is also growing faster and has
more than doubled in last three years. Efforts have also been made in this issue to
present the realistic state-wise picture of total certified area in the country.
Planning Commission is in the process of finalization of next five years plan
document and intends to give major boost to organic farming. I invite all those
who would like to share their views and opinion for policy build up of the
country. Organic Farming Newsletter is an ideal forum for carrying their views to
the appropriate forum.
v'kksd v'kksd dqekj dqekj ;kno ;kno A.K. Yadav
laiknd laiknd Editor
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Organic Farming Newsletter, September 2006

tSfod [ksrh lwpuk i= 2¼3½
Organic Farming in Sikkim
S.K. Sinha
Department of Food Security and Agriculture Development
Tadong, Sikkim
Sikkim an Overview
Sikkim being the first declared organic state
in the North Eastern Region is taking rapid
strides in converting the agrarian agricultural
practices of the state to fully organic based.
The tiny state of Sikkim in the Himalayan
Region spreads over 7,096 sq. kilometers, of
which, nearly 1,10,000 ha is available for
cultivation. The net sown area is estimated to
be around 79,000 ha. Rain-fed agriculture is
a predominant feature, having only about
15% area under irrigation. Main crops grown
in the state are maize, pulses, oilseeds,
millets, buckwheat etc. Due to hilly terrain
and small-holdings, mixed farming is the
most suited farming system. Entire state is
hilly with no plain land. The agro-climatic
conditions range from sub-tropical type in
the lower valley to alpine conditions in the
upper reaches. Less than 30% of land has
been classified as the land of capacity class I.
Cultivation is done in slopping topography
with or without proper bench terracing.
Strategy
The Department of Food Security and
Agriculture Development is spearheading the
task of converting the state to fully organic
agriculture state with following strategy:
� Phasing out of fertilizer consumption
� Identification of organic sources of
nutrients
� Transfer of technology-ensuring farmer’s
participation on the organic farming
system
� Human resource development
� Creation of infrastructure for
implementing various programmes like
establishment of biofertilizer production
unit and the upgradation of soil testing
laboratories.
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� Substituting pesticides with eco-friendly
organics
� Encouraging alternative and integrated
pest management approach.
Priority
Being the first to go organic the States’
efforts need enduring support from all
related players and stakeholders to ensure
that the State actually reap benefits,
particularly in terms of rural farmer, who
struggle all his life to make both ends meet.
Realizing the hilly nature of the State, where
productivity of food grains can not increased
dramatically, emphasis is more on
commercial crops, fruits and off-season
vegetables that have tremendous scope and
are fetching good market prices outside the
state.
Programmes being implemented by the
Department
Reduction in fertilizer use – Subsidy on
fertilizers is being reduced at 10% per year
since 2003-04. The subsidy component
during the year 2006-07 is zero. Overall
fertilizer consumption has been reduced to
just 1.64 (NPK) kg/ha during 2005-06 (Table
1). Department has already stopped
purchasing chemical fertilizers in the
schemes and relying only on organic sources
of nutrients. Demonstration trials are being
carried out at farmers’ fields using improved
organic manures soil conditioners and
organic fertilizers.
Centres of excellence - Two Government
farms have been converted into the centers of
excellence for organic farming, with all the
necessary facilities.
Organic Farming Newsletter, September 2006

tSfod [ksrh lwpuk i= 2¼3½
Table 1. Chemical fertilizer consumption
during 2005-06.
Fertilizer Consumption in tonnes
In terms of In terms of
Material nutrients
Urea 187.3 112.40(N)
DAP 145.55 67.00(P)
MOP 2.00 1.2 (K)
Total 334.85 180.6
Composting - Rural composting is being
encouraged at massive scale by providing
financial assistance to farmers. A new
technology for making urine pit along with
the rural composting pit has been introduced
and is getting popularized.
EM-Technology -100 villages are being
converted to Bio-villages using EMtechnology.
Initially 30 farmers are being
selected in each of these villages for
conversion with the further aim to bring all
the farmers in due course.
Vermicomposting – Farmers are being
encouraged to produce vermicompost at their
own farms by providing financial assistance.
Two vermicompost production units, one at
Government farm and one at NGO farm,
have been established with 150MT
production capacity/year. A large scale
demonstration programme is underway at
farmers' fields involving on-farm production
of vermicompost.
Biofertilizer – A biofertilizer production
unit is under final stages of construction at
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Mazitar, using the funds provided by North
Eastern Council. On commissioning in near
future this unit will be catering to the state’s
entire requirement of Biofertilizers with
native microbial strains.
Literatures – For creating awareness, wide
publicity campaigns are being taken and
necessary literature on organic farming is
being prepared for wide circulation among
farmers.
Trainings and Development of model
organic farms –Under National Project on
Organic Farming a sum of Rs. 19.12 lakh
were sanctioned by Govt of India for
organization of 24 farmers training
programmes and for establishment of 4
model organic farms. department of
Horticulture and Cash Crops Development,
Sikkim has also been provided with a grant
of Rs. 49.11 lakh under NPOF for
organization of various training programmes,
field demonstrations, establishment of one
model organic farm. 10 No service
providers have also been sanctioned to the
state for arranging certification of farmer
groups under internal control system of
NPOP. All these programmes are in different
stages of implementation.
Future strategy
� Conversion of agrarian practices of the
state from inorganic to fully organic
based farming through development and
standardization of package of practices
for organic crop management.
� Identifying organic sources of crop
production and protection for reduction
of dependence on chemical sources.
� Strengthen farmer-level self sustaining
organic crop production process.
� Reduce adverse impact on the
environment and natural resources.
Organic Farming Newsletter, September 2006

tSfod [ksrh lwpuk i= 2¼3½
Vermicompost improves productivity and
quality of Nagpur mandarin
V. Ramamurthy, Jagdish Prasad, V.N. Prahad and V. Thakre
National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Nagpur, India
Vermicompost application is one of the
effective methods to rejuvenate the depleted
soil fertility, enrich the available pool of
nutrients, maintain soil quality and conserve
more water and more biological resources
(Pimental et al 2005). With this background
an on-farm study was taken on 10 farmers'
field in 10 year old orange orchards in
typical expansive clay soils of Vidarbha
region in Central India. Three treatments in
1000m 2 plots, viz: T1-20 kg FYM/tree, T2-
50 kg FYM+600:200:100g NPK/tree and T3-
5 kg vermicompost and 20 kg FYM were
subjected to study during 2001 to 2004.
Yield, yield attributes and quality parameters
were recorded on five randomly selected
trees from each treatment plot during 2003
and 2004.
The nutrient status in terms of N, P, K, Ca
and Mg (in %) was 0.5, 0.2, 0.5, 0.9 and 0.2
in FYM and 1.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.5 and 0.2 in
vermicompost respectively. Fe, Mn, Cu and
Zn were at the level of 146, 69.0, 2.8 and
14.5 in FYM and 175, 96.5, 5.0 and 24.5 mg
kg 1 in FYM and vermicompost respectively.
Application of vermicompost + FYM in T3
recorded significantly higher number of
fruits, fruit weight and yield in both the years
compared to other two treatments.
Application of vermicompost was not only
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found to improve the yield and yield
attributes, but has also suitably modified the
physical and biological properties of soil.
Similar views were also reported by
Srivastava and Singh (2004). The increase in
number of fruits, fruit weight and yield in T3
was 7, 18 and 46% over T1 and 4, 15 and
41% over T2 (see Table 1). Vermicompost
application also improved porosity, internal
drainage of soils and nutrient content of soil.
Increased conservation of water led to low
fruit drop, higher fruit number and fruit
weight. Application of vermicompost
improved the TSS and juice content of fruits
significantly (Table 1). Increased TSS and
juice contents inT3 was attributed to
regulated nutrient supply due to
vermicompost application.
Table 1. Effect of vermicompost on Nagpur
mandarin (Mean of two years)
Parameter Treatments
T1 T2 T3 CD at
5%
2003/20
04
No of 795 824 858 24.3/24.
fruits/tree
Weight of
fruit (g)
124 128 152 8.7/9.0
Fruit yield
(T/ha)
28 30 52 2.2/2.1
TSS (%) 9.6 10.5 10.8 0.19/0.4
Juice (%) 38.7 41.2 43.3 1.27/0.7
References
Piemental, D., Hepperly, P, Hansen, J.
Dodus, D. and Seidel, R. 2005. Bioscience
55(7) : 573-582.
Srivastava, A.K. and Singh, S. 2004. Tech
Bull 8, NRC for Citrus, Nagpur, pp130.
Organic Farming Newsletter, September 2006

tSfod [ksrh lwpuk i= 2¼3½
Shri Ponumatsa Peddi Raju, a small farmer
of Polamuru village in Ponuimantra Mandal,
West Godawari District of Andhra Pradesh
has successfully adopted a package of
organic rice cultivation in consultation with
"Technology Extension Societ,
Veeravasaram" and Department of
Agriculture, Andhra Pradesh. "Ankur
Sonam" variety was tested under the
package. Details of his organic package and
input and output statistics per one acre is
presented here in his own words.
Soil enrichment and nutrition supply is
managed by the application of 5 ton of cattle
dung manure, 500 kg vermicompost, 80 kg
neem cake, 50 kg ground nut cake and 50 kg
castor oil cake. Some quantity of waste
tobacco plants were also added along with
compost. While dung manure and
vermicompost was applied for soil
enrichment and nutrition, oil cakes were used
to encourage the growth of friendly
microflora and fauna and restrict the growth
of soil borne pathogens and pests.
Azospirillum, PSB and BGA biofertilizers
were also used in recommended doses for
harvesting atmospheric nitrogen and for
solubilizing fixed soil phosphorus. Various
EM formulations such as EM-1, EM-3 and
EM-5 were frequently used as per the
recommended methods. Besides, these no
other input, synthetic or otherwise, was used.
For insect pest management, neem oil,
custard apple leaf extract fermented with
EM-2, tobacco-leaf extract and garlic-gingerchilli
extract were used at different growth
stages for the control of different insects.
Organic Rice
A Success Story
Ponumatsa Peddi Raju
Polamuru, West Godawari, Andhra Pradesh
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Right from the first year I am getting an
average productivity of 2250 kg/acre (5.625
t/ha). As per my calculation total cost of
inputs used per acre was Rs. 3685/-
(including the prevailing market price of
home grown cattle dung manure,
vermicompost, oilcakes, garlin, ginger, chilli
etc). Total cost in terms of labour (for land
preparation, nursery raising, transplantation,
weeding, spraying, harvesting and threshing)
was Rs. 3550/-. Out of the total cost of Rs.
7235/- per acre, cost of purchased inputs
(EM, oil cakes and biofertilizers) was only
Rs. 1500/-, while other inputs were on-farm
produce. Similarly 50% of the labour cost
was also from the self and family members.
As my rice was organic, grown without the
use of chemicals, I fetched very good price.
Organic Farming Newsletter, September 2006

tSfod [ksrh lwpuk i= 2¼3½
During the year 2005-06 season my rice was
sold at Rs. 1000/- per bag of 75 kg each
(Rs.13.33 per kg). With this premium my net
income was Rs. 22,765/- per acre (total sale
value Rs. 30,000/- minus cost of cultivation
Rs. 7235/-). Even if it is assumed that I do
not fetch any premium price then my rice
would be sold at half the price and still be
giving a net profit of Rs. 7765/- which is
much higher then what farmers are
harvesting by conventional farming methods.
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Now Shri Peddi Raju is a happy farmer, he
has his own cattle, he has developed his own
composting and vermicomposting production
units and almost all inputs (except EM and
biofertilizers) are generated on his own farm
or in the village. This way he is not only
helping his soil and environment to remain
healthy, but is also contributing to rural
wealth generation, in which sale proceeds are
not paid to industries and market forces, but
are utilized locally for the benefit of rural
people.
NPOP gets Equivalence in European Union
After USA, now European Union has also granted equivalence to the National Programme
on Organic Production (NPOP) of India. The Commission of the European Communities,
vide Commission Regulation (EC) No. 956/2006 of 28 th June 2006, amending Regulation
(EEC) No. 94/92 as regards the list of third countries from which certain agricultural
products obtained by organic production must originate to be marketed with in the
community. The amendment specifies that the rules governing production and inspection of
agricultural products are equivalent to those laid down in regulation (EEC) No. 2092/91.
The Commission has carried out an on-the-spot-check of the rules of production and the
inspection measures actually applied in India, as provided for in article 11(5) of regulation
(EEC) No. 2092/91.
The essentials of the said regulation are as follows:
Approved product categories
a. Unprocessed crop products within the meaning of Article 1(1)(a) of regulation
(EEC) No. 2092/91
b. Foodstuffs composed essentially of one or more ingredients of plant origin with in
the meaning of Article 1(1)(b) of regulation (EEC) No. 2092/91
Origin – Products of category 1(a) and organically grown ingredients in products of
category 1(b) that have been grown in India.
Inspection and Certification bodies – All eleven certification and inspection bodies
accredited by the APEDA under NPOP have been accepted as authorized inspection and
certification bodies under the said regulation.
Duration of the inclusion – 30.06.2009.
To make the NPOP an internationally acceptable mechanism, efforts are also on to obtain
equivalence from other countries also. Recently NPOP has been accepted by the
Switzerland. Among third countries India is the only country whose organic certification
mechanism has been accepted by the USA, EU and Switzerland. This is likely to give a
phenomenonal boost to the export of organic products.
Organic Farming Newsletter, September 2006

tSfod [ksrh lwpuk i= 2¼3½
Organic farming could be useful to
increase agricultural productivity both
qualitatively and quantitatively – The
Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives,
Jammu and Kashmir, Jenab Abdul Aziz
Zargar, while addressing the trainess in a ten
days training course, organized by Regional
Centre of Organic Farming, Hisar stated that
statistics reveal that contribution of
agriculture to GDP is continuously showing
a declining trend, which need to be checked
by improving soil status and transfer of latest
farm technology to increase productivity,
both qualitatively and quantitatively.
Introduction of organic farming could be
fruitful means to achieve this cherished goal
(RCOF, Hisar).
Organic Yields Better -First Annual
Progress Report of Department of Agronomy
and Agromet, Punjab Agricultural
University, Ludhiana, under Network Project
on Organic Farming of ICAR, reveals that
organic management yield better then
conventional system. In this study five
cropping systems viz: Basmati rice-wheatgreen
manure, Turmeric-onion, summer
ground nut-garlic, Maize-durum wheatcowpea
(fodder) and Rice-garlic+mentha,
were studied under complete organic,
complete inorganic (control) and integrated
systems. Organic sources used were FYM,
crop residue, vermicompost, non-edible oil
cakes and sunhemp green manure.
The maize-wheat and basmati rice-wheat
cropping system fared well under organic
management. The productivity of maize
under organic management was 37.6 to
46.0q/ha compared to 20.4q/ha in control.
Basmati rice with green manure only gave
45.8% higher productivity then control. The
wheat following maize produced 25.5-
27.8q/ha as against 12.2q/ha in control. The
rice equivalent yield of organic, inorganic
and integrated were: (a) under rice-
India Organic News
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garlic+mentha 217.3, 193.3 and 275.4, (b)
under summer groundnut-garlic 144.4, 126.1
and 167.9, (c) under maize-wheat-cowpeas,
110.3, 111.1 and 121.7, (d) under basmati
rice-wheat-green manure 113.9, 104.3 and
122.4 and (e) under turmeric onion were
302.7, 186.6 and 381q/ha respectively.
The acidity percentage in organic onion was
more under organic. In garlic TSS, acidity
and ascorbic acid content improved under
organic. Release of Trichogramma
japonicum and T. chilonis below economical
threshold limit. Dipping of rice in fermented
cow dung-cow urine, manual weeding, neem
oil spray, neem cake application in soil and
foliar spray of Trichoderma harzianum
proved effective against insect-pests in rice.
The substantial improvement in organic
carbon, N,P and K status was recorded under
organic management. The corresponding
value ranged between 0.54 to 0.59, 294.8 to
341.8, 40.9 to 51.9 and 161.0 to 179.3
against initial values as 0.34, 277.8, 36.3 and
134.4 respectively. The extent of
improvement in integrated was also observed
but in chemical the improvement was
comparatively very less.
Natural Pest control Techniques – For
fungal disease and termite control various
indigenous methods have been tried and
published in the literature. Some of the
important control measures are described
here:
For fungal disease control
• A mixture of ash (2-3 kg) and 1 liter of
castor oil is spread on a seed bed of a
size of about 100m 2 . The application is
repeated 2-3 times at intervals of 7-10
days. This provides protection against
soil borne diseases in tobacco nurseries.
• A mixture of 2 kg of turmeric powder
and 8 kg wood ash is used as dust over
leaves for treatment against powdery
mildew.
Organic Farming Newsletter, September 2006

tSfod [ksrh lwpuk i= 2¼3½
• Ginger powder at 20 gm/lit of water and
sprayed thrice at interval of 15 days can
also effectively check the incidence of
powdery mildew and other fungal
diseases.
• Handful of slaked lime applied at the
base of tomato plant can combat
damping-off disease.
• Cattle and goat urine have fungicidal
properties. Two cups of cattle urine with
5ml peppermint oil and 10 lit of water
can be used to control fungal diseases on
grapes
For termite control
• Mixture of lime and sulphur forked into
the soil discourages termite attack.
• Wood ash heaped around the base of the
trunk prevent termite infestation in coffee
bushes and date palms.
• Repeated pouring of cattle urine diluted
at 1:6 with water in termite holes helps in
keeping their spread under control.
• Mixture of cattle dung and red coloured
clay with water is coated on the trunk
and large twigs at the onset of monsoon
when termite damage is severe. Fresh
and young grafts are can also be coated
with it to protect them from termites.
(Source – Natural Crop Protection in the
Tropics – Letting information come to life by
Gabbriele Stoll. Publishers Margraf Verlag
Germany)
Organic Cotton beats Bt Cotton – The
benefits of organic cotton seem to clearly
outweigh those from Bt cotton, whose cost
of cultivation in the kharif season of 2005
was higher by 67% and income lower by
37%, says a survey by the Centre for
Sustainable Agriculture, Hyderabad. The
study conducted in Andhra Pradesh reveals
that the cost of cultivation of BT cotton per
acre stood at Rs. 8,366/- while the same for
organic cotton was Rs. 5,008/-. Net income
per acre from Bt cotton was lower by 37% at
Rs. 3,551 from organic cotton, which stood
at Rs. 5,618. However in terms of gross
income Bt cotton was ahead of organic
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cotton, the reason being Bt cotton's higher
average yield of 6.14 quintal as against 5.23
quintals of latter. The gross income of Bt
cotton stood at Rs. 11,918/- but for organic
cotton it was Rs. 10,627/-. The average
market price for Bt cotton was Rs. 1,941/-,
while for organic it was Rs. 2,032/-. The
study was based on season long fortnightly
monitoring of 120 Bt cotton fields from five
districts of Andhra Pradesh and 123 nonpesticidal
management (NPM)/ organic
cotton farmers from four districts.
(Source – The Living Field, OFAI
Newsletter, April 2006.
Punjab Farmers visit model organic farms
in Vidarbha- To promote organic farming
in Punjab and to provide deep insight of the
organic technologies, developed by organic
farmers of Vidarbha, Kheti Virasat Mission,
Punjab, organized a visit of 12 progressive
farmers of Punjab during 17 th to 21 st August
2006. First day the visiting farmers
witnessed the new method of rice cultivation,
popularly known as SRI (System of Rice
Intensification). In this method only 2 kg of
rice seed is good enough for one acre and the
nutrient management is exclusively by
organic methods. Water requirement is 50%
less than the conventional methods. Yield
averages around 40-55 quintals/ha. Second
day of the visit was attributed to mixed
farming model of Chetna Vikas (a NGO). In
this method 35 crops are grown in one acre
with novel water harvesting techniques. By
this method a farmer can earn a net income
of Rs. 15,000/- per ha, with 85% of his
nutritional and food needs. As the model was
rainfed based, farmers were of the opinion
that this model may not be suitable under
irrigated conditions of Punjab. Third day of
the visit was on the farm of two very
prominent organic farmers Viz Shri Anand
Subedar and Shri Subhash Sharma. On last
day of the visit they visited few small
organic farmers of village Mandwa. Farmers
left for their home state after paying their
tributes to the father of Nation at Sewgram.
(Source–Sh. Ajay Tigaonkar, MOFF).
Organic Farming Newsletter, September 2006

tSfod [ksrh lwpuk i= 2¼3½
Organic farming is growing at very fast pace
in India. The movement started with few
enthusiastic NGOs has taken deep root and is
being given due importance in various
agricultural policies of Central and State
Governments. With the introduction of
National Programme on Organic Production
(NPOP), certification has assumed
significant proportion. Total certified
cultivated area, which stood at 76,326 ha
during 2004-05 has now grown up to
1,73,682.5ha. Besides this there is also about
23,62,400ha certified (by SGS) wild forest
collection area. Total certification bodies
accredited under NPOP now stood at 11. A
list of certification agencies is given Table 1.
Details of total cultivated certified area under
India Certified Organic
10
different states and certified by different
accredited agencies are given in Fig 1, Fig.2
and Table. 2. Among states Orissa, Jammu
and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and
Kerala are major certified states and
accounts for 605 of the total certified area in
the country. Among certification agencies,
Ecocert and SKAL are major certification
bodies accounting for 68.2% of the total
certified area in the country (see Table and
Fig 1 and 2) Among different agencies, M/S
Eco Farms Pvt. Ltd, Yavatmal has emerged
as single largest certifier with more than
24,000 ha certified area in Orissa and about
9,500 ha certified area in Maharashtra, with
cotton as the largest certified crop.
S.No. Certification agency
1 BVQI (India) Pvt. Ltd Marwah Centre, Krishanlal Marwah Marg, Andheri (East), Mumbai
2 Ecocert SA, Sector-3, S-6/3 & 4, Nakshatrawadi, Aurangabad
3 Indian Organic Certification agency, (INDOCERT) Thottumugham Aluva, Cochin
4. IMO Control Pvt. Ltd.1314, Double Road, Indiranagar 2nd Stage, Bangalore
5 International Resources for Fairer Trade, Unit No. 7, Parsi Pandhayat Road, Andheri (E), Mumbai
6 Lacon Quality certification Pvt. Ltd. Chenathra, Theepany, Thiruvalla, Kerala
7 Natural Organic Certification Association, 5th Lane, Shikshak Nagar, Kothrud, Pune
8 OneCert Asia Agri Certification Pvt. Ltd. Agrasen Farm, Vatika Road, Jaipur
9 SGS India Pvt. Ltd.250 Udyog Vihar, Phase – IV, Gurgaon
10 Skal International (India), No. 191, 1st Main Road, Mahalaxmi Layout, Bangalore
11 Uttaranchal State Organic Certification Agency, 12/II Vasant Vihar, Dehradun
Fig.1 Area certified by different certification agencies
70000
60000
50000
40000
30000
20000
10000
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SKAL
EcoCert
SGS
IMO
IOCA
OneCert
NOCA
LACON
USOCA
BVQI
IRFT
Organic Farming Newsletter, September 2006

tSfod [ksrh lwpuk i= 2¼3½
30000
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Organic Farming Newsletter, September 2006

tSfod [ksrh lwpuk i= 2¼3½
Table 2 Certified organic area certified by different certification agencies under different states.
SKAL EcoCert SGS IMO IOCA OneCert NOCA LACON USOCA BVQI IRFT
A.P. 1298.74 1.08 0 5.6 356 0 0 0 0 0 0 1661.42
Arunachal 0 0 0 0 557.76 0 0 0 0 0 0 557.76
Asom 678.08 0 90.404 983.36 65.66 0 0 0 0 0 0 1817.504
Bihar 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Chattisgarh 0 279.16 0 0 0 14 0 0 0 0 0 293.16
Delhi 1206.17 0 452.54 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1658.71
Goa 3401.68 31.42 0 2121.97 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5555.07
Gujrat 1436.98 86.5 0 0 35.58 68 0 0 0 0 0 1627.06
Haryana 238.57 630.3 1735.8 329.8 194.25 308.8 0 0 0 0 0 3437.52
Himachal 7.49 39.92 0 0 0 3600 0 0 0 0 0 3647.41
J&K 438.32 21877.6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 22315.92
Jharkhand 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 5
Karnataka 3755.1 2.31 0 246.76 113 0 0 0 0 0 0 4117.17
Kerala 5067.62 122.21 0 1566.84 7586.96 0 0 1130.838 0 0 0 15474.47
Manipur 189.89 0 157.76 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 347.65
Maharashtra 7442.39 8884.28 0 931.23 215.29 11.2 1302.3 0 0 0 0 18786.69
Madhya Pr. 16534.37 0 0 19 0 28 0 0 0 0 0 16581.37
Mizoram 0 0 0 0 300.4 0 0 0 0 0 0 300.4
Meghalaya 0 0 0 0 378.89 0 0 0 0 0 0 378.89
Nagaland 0 0 0 0 718.76 0 0 0 0 0 0 718.76
Orissa 1904.89 24366.97 0 0 116 0 0 0 0 0 0 26387.86
Punjab 0 0 2640.6 980.91 125 32.8 0 0 0 0 0 3779.31
Rajasthan 1283.33 7754.56 1801.62 172.64 118.48 10974.28 0 0 0 0 0 22104.91
Sikkim 0 0 0 177.64 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 177.64
Tripura 0 0 0 0 20.87 0 0 0 0 0 0 20.87
Tamilnadu 873.19 445.91 0 3172.41 932.12 0 0 0 0 0 0 5423.63
UP 2545.16 94.13 103.276 0 273.77 8 0 9.64 0 0 0 3033.976
Uttaranchal 1233.66 1915.15 228.03 648.17 0 38 0 0 1852.84 0 0 5915.85
West bengal 1616.37 0 1180.71 3935.35 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6732.43
Other 824.13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 824.13
Total 51976.13 66531.5 8390.74 15291.68 12108.79 15083.08 1302.3 1145.478 1852.84 0 0 173682.5
12
Organic Farming Newsletter, September 2006

tSfod [ksrh lwpuk i= 2¼3½
FAO provides country information - The
Food and Agriculture Organization FAO has
set up a database ("Organic AIMS") with
country information on organic agriculture.
The following aspects are covered: Legal
and institutional framework, institutions and
experts. Selected documents are made
available. So far only a few countries are
covered but within the next years the
information system should provide extensive
information on organic farming in most
countries of the world.
(Source - FAO: Organic Agriculture
Information Management System (Organic-
AIMS)
Term "Bio" now protected in all EU
countries - The European Court of Justice
has ruled in two judgements dated 14.7.2005
that the term "bio" is protected as an
indication of organic agriculture in all
community languages. This is reported by
lawyer Hanspeter Schmidt of Freiburg, who
intensively monitors the legal aspects of the
organic industry. Regulation No. 392/2004
amends the original Organic Regulation No.
2092/91 to the effect that terms contained in
the various languages shall be regarded as an
indication of organic production methods
throughout the community and in all
community languages. In the past, there had
been repeated contraventions of the term
"bio" in Spain, where it was also allowed for
other production methods.
(Source: Biofach Newsletter, 29.7.2005).
Can Organic farming feed us all – In
recent years, organic farming has attracted
new scrutiny, not just from critics who fear
that large scale shift in its direction would
cause billions to starve, but also from
farmers and development agencies who
actually suspect that such a shift could better
satisfy hungry populations. Unfortunately no
one had ever analyzed whether in a fact a
Global Organic
13
wide spread shift to organic farming would
run up against a shortage of nutrients and a
lack of yields – until recently. The results are
striking.
There are actually myriad studies from
around the world, showing that organic
farms can produce about as much, and in
some settings much more than conventional
farms. Latest up-to-date research results
refutes the argument that organic farming
would yield just one third or one-half of the
conventional farming. For example a recent
study at the Research Institute for Organic
Agriculture (FiBL) in Switzerland showed
that organic farms were only 20% less
productive than conventional plots over a 21
–year period. Another study by David
Pimental and his team concludes that after
transitional period grain yield in two organic
systems were similar to conventional system.
Average corn yields in 5 dry years were
significantly higher in two organic systems
compared with conventional. Looking at 200
studies in North Americaand Europe, Per
Pinstrup Anderson (a Cornell Professor and
winner of the World Food Prize) and
colleagues recently concluded that organic
yields were about 80% of conventional
yields. Many more such studies show an
even narrower gap. Reviewing 154 seasons'
worth of data on various crops grown on
rain-fed and irrigated land in the United
States, University of California-Davis,
agricultural scientist Bill Liebhardt found
that organic corn yields were 94%, organic
wheat yield were 97% and organic soybean
yields were 94% of conventional yields.
Organic tomatoes showed no yield
difference. University of Essex researchers
Jules Pretty and Rachel Hine looked at over
200 agricultural projects in the developing
world, that converted to organic and
ecological approaches, and found that for all
the projects – involving 9 million farms on
Organic Farming Newsletter, September 2006

tSfod [ksrh lwpuk i= 2¼3½
nearly 30 million ha – yields increased an
average of 93%. A seven year study Maikaal
Project in central India involving 1,000
farmers cultivating 3200 ha, found that
average yields for cotton, wheat, chili and
soybean were as much as 20% higher on the
organic farms than on nearby conventionally
managed ones. Farmers and agricultural
scientists attributed the higher yields in this
dry region to the emphasis on cover crops,
compost, manure and other practices that
increased organic matter in the soil. A study
from Kenya found that while organic farmers
in "high potential areas" (those with above
average rainfall and high soil quality) had
lower maize yields than non-organic farmers.
Organic farmers in areas with poorer
resource endowments consistently out
yielded conventional growers. Contrary to
critics who jibe that it's going back to
farming like our grandfathers did or that
most of Africa already farms organically and
it can't do the job, organic farming is a
sophisticated combination of old wisdom and
modern ecological innovations that help
harness the yield boosting effects of nutrient
cycles, beneficial insects and crop synergies.
It is heavily dependent on on-farm resource
management technology and just not on the
technology that comes out of chemical
plants.
(Source – World – Watch May-June 2006,
pp 18-24)
Environmental and macroeconomic
impact assessment of large scale
conversion to organic farming in Croatia
– Within the framework of an FAO technical
assistance project for Croatia a study
assessing the feasibility of large scale
conversion to organic farming has been
carried out. The study examined the
environmental and economic consequences
of the conversion of a substantial portion of
Croatian agricultural land to organic
farming. The average of the figures obtained
for the 2001-2003 served as the baseline for
the comparison with development scenarios.
Fourteen development scenarios have been
constructed. They differ according to the
14
share of the utilized agricultural area (UAA)
under organic farming management: 10, 25,
50 and 100% of UAA. Each of these shares
was further divided by the yield level of 100,
75 and 50% as compared to the baseline. The
two scenarios with 10 and 25% of UAA
under organic management and 75% yield
levels were the only scenarios including a
10% price premium. In all other scenarios
organic products are assumed to obtain no
premium price. This is made in order to
enable the same consumers' purchasing
power as with the baseline seasons. Further it
was assumed that the utilized land area
(UAA), crop and livestock mix as well as the
subsidy levels would remain the same as in
the baseline.
The baseline scenario – Farming and Farm
related activity (FRA) provide employment
to 148,607 people and create a Gross Value
addition (GVA) of 637 M Euro (million
Euros), corresponding to 2.8% of GDP.
Farming alone equals 394 M Euro,
corresponding to 365 Euro per UAA and
about 1.7% of GDP. The output equals 2,273
M Euro and the intermediate consumption
1,610 M Euro, resulting in a gross margin of
663 M Euro. When fixed costs are added the
GVA sinks to 394 M Euro. Farming
subsidies make up 55% of the entire farming
GVA. Without subsidies the Croatian
farming would create only 175 M Euro of
GVA. As per independent assessment, the
Croatian farming and FRA has caused
considerable damage to the environment
totaling 631 M Euro and consumed 478 M
Euro of public money per year, bringing the
total cost to 1,108 M Euro. If the GVA
generated by Croatian farming and FRA was
adjusted for these external costs, the farming
and FRA activities had resulted in a negative
real value addition (RVA) of minus 469 M
Euro.
Scenario including organic farming – If
the entire UAA in Croatia converted to
organic farming and if the crops and
livestock gave the same yields (which is
possible as per recent assessments) as in the
baseline, the farming sector would generate
an output of 2271 M Euro. The immediate
Organic Farming Newsletter, September 2006

tSfod [ksrh lwpuk i= 2¼3½
consumption would be 1205 M Euro,
resulting in a gross margin of 1066 M Euro.
After subtracting fixed cost the GVA would
be 796M Euro. This mean that organic
farming practiced on the entire Croatian
UAA would generate a 402 M Eur higher
GVA compared to farming sector in the
baseline scenario. When corrected for
environmental costs and public investments
this scenario creates a net RVA of 257 M
Euro, which is 726 M Euro more than
obtained in the baseline. The scenario
involving 100% organic area, but yielding
only 75% of the baseline produce a GVA of
529 M Euro which is about 10% lower than
the baseline, and gives a negative RVA (-133
M Euro), which is till better than the net vale
addition in baseline. The scenario involving
50% of organic area and 100, 75 and 50%
yields, compared to baseline scenario results
in the GVA of 833, 583 and 401 M Euro
respectively. The scenario with 25% organic
area and 75% yield of the baseline but
attracting a premium price of 10% produces
about the same GVA as the baseline (645 M
Euro). Similarly the organic scenarios
occupying only 10% of the UAA even with
lower results in a fairly similar GVA and
RVA as the baseline scenario. However, the
scenario assuming the same yield levels
results into fairly better both in terms of
GVA and RVA. All scenarios involving
organic farming decrease the environmental
costs and also results in lower public
investments, thereby adding to the increased
real value addition.
Organic certifier revoked in USA – So far
it has always been the seekers of organic
certification who have been at receiving end,
if they fall short of the conformity norms.
Now it is the turn of the certifiers themselves
to follow the regulations. In USA certifiers
are supposed to ensure that rules are
followed and forward records about organic
rule breakers to the USDA. Recently
questions have been raised about the
15
trustability of the USDA. In June 2006, a
agency issued a notice to revoke the
certification of American Food Safety
Institute International (AFSII) in Chppewa
Falls. The company oversees about 30
organic operations in seven states and
Mexico. It is also a part of the High Sierra
Group, which also owns companies that
make specialty chemicals for the food
industry. A report from the investigation
stated that this company certified a seed farm
that was treated with banned chemicals, even
after another certifier turned the farm down
for that reason. It also allowed a bottledwater
company to use the USDA organic
label despite federal rules against designating
water as organic. The audit recommended
the USDA to revoke the company's ability to
grant organic approval for food producers
and to pay for them to get their certification
by another company. On July 26, 2006, the
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural
Marketing Service, National Organic
Program (NOP) issued a Final Notice of
Revocation of Accreditation to the American
Food Safety Institute, International (AFSII),
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. The NOP will
allow producers and handlers formerly
certified by AFSII 30 days to change labels
and promotional material to reflect their new
certifying agency. Clients certified by AFSII
will remain certified until they are revoked,
suspended, or surrender their
certification. Also, under the terms of the
revocation, the Department ordered AFSII to
refer eight of AFSII’s approximately 30
clients to another certifier due to identified
conflicts of interest between AFSII and
certified operations and to reimburse those
clients for the full cost of recertification.
NOP regulations prohibit a certifier from
providing consulting services for their
organic certification clients for 12 months
prior to certification.
(Source – www.ams.usda.gov/news)
Organic Farming Newsletter, September 2006

tSfod [ksrh lwpuk i= 2¼3½
National and International Events
Association of Applied Biologists and
Colloquium of Organic Researchers
Conference -
is scheduled for 18 th Sep 2006 at Heriot-Watt
University, Edinburgh, U.K. This biennial
conference aims to provide a forum where
approaches to, and unresolved issues arising
from, research in organic farming systems
can be aired and new thinking enabled. The
conference takes as its focus, "what will
organic farming deliver and how can this be
facilitated?" This conference seeks to be
cross-cutting and, while encouraging
researchers with a wide range of interests to
attend, it will not separate the sessions into
discipline-orientated parallel sessions. The
themes identified for the main platform
sessions are consequently broad; the widest
possible interpretation should be made about
topics. For further information, Contact:
AAB Offi ce, c/o Warwick HRI
Wellesbourne, Warwick, UK CV35 9EF Tel:
+ 44 (0)2476575195 Fax: +44 (0)1789
470234 E: carol.aab@warwick.ac.uk
Strengthening research for organic food
and farming systems in the 7th EU
Research Framework Programme - On the
occasion of the Commissions conference
“Communicating European Research” the
IFOAM EU Group published its position
paper on “Organic Farming in the 7th
Research Framework Programme”
addressing organic research need to Research
Commissioner Potocnik. In a press release
the group urges the Commission to boost
organic farming in the 7th framework
programme as it can contribute significantly
to achieving several goals of various EU
level policy strategies. IFOAM EU Group is
especially referring to the Commission’s
European Action Plan on Organic Food and
Farming, adopted in June 2004, where the
Commission underlines its intention to
strengthen research on organic farming
systems.
16
National Senminar on "Soil Health and
Water Management for Sustainable
Sericulture". – A two days National
Senminar on "Soil Health and Water
Management for Sustainable Sericulture" is
scheduled for 27-28 th September 2006 at
Regional Sericulture Research Research
Station, Central Silk Board, Kodathi,
Karmelram Post, Sarjapura Road, Bangalore
– 560 035. Depleting ground water
resources, decline in soil fertility, pest
resurgence and loss of soils' microflora and
fauna are some of the major concerns facing
us today. Sericulture industry is also facing
similar problems, which need to be
addressed on priority. With a view to
generate information and create greater
awareness among the scientists and
development functionaries and to draw an
action plan for the immediate future, this
national seminar is being organized. Other
institutions collaborating the event include
National Academy of Sericulture Sciences,
India (NASSI), Agriculture Man Ecology
Foundation (AME) and Environment
Education Foundation (EEF). Technical
deliberations are likely to be concentrated on
major aspects to be covered in four different
technical sessions: (I) Soil health
management (II) Rain water harvesting,
conservation and effective utilization of farm
activities, (III) Recycling of serifarm residue
for prolific composting and (IV) Integrated
nutrient, pest and farming system
management in sericulture. Abstracts not
exceeding 200 word are invi9ted by 16 th
August. For further details please contact
Joint Director and Organizing Secretary,
Regional Sericulture Research Station,
Central Silk Board, Kodathi, Karmelram
Post, Sarjapura Road, Bangalore – 560 035.
Phone 080-28439263, Fax 080-28440908,
Email rsrsbng@yahoo.com.
Organic Farming Newsletter, September 2006

tSfod [ksrh lwpuk i= 2¼3½
A study tour to assess the progress of
organic farming and green food
production in China - Dr. P. Bhattacharyya,
Director, National Centre of Organic
Farming, Ghaziabad and Additional
Commissioner(INM), Krishi Bhawan, New
Delhi visited China (Beijing & Inner
Mongolia) during 23 rd July, 2006 to 29 th
July, 2006 in the capacity of National Project
Director of FAO Technical Project
TCP/IND/3003 on Development of a
Technical Capacity Base for the Promotion
of Organic Agriculture.
The purpose of visit was to study the
progress of organic farming and green food
production in China. During his visit, Dr.
Bhattacharyya met Dr. Guo Chunmin, Vice
President of China Organic Food
Certification Centre, Beijing, Dr. Mu
Jianhua, Deputy Director of International
Cooperation Department/China Green Food
Development Center, Beijing, Professor
Yong Zhong Qian, Deputy Director General,
Institute of Quality Standards and Testing
Technology for agri-products, Chinese
Academy of Agricultural Science. Dr.
Bhattacharyya also visited organic farms like
Beijing Lianshun Agriculture Development
Co. Ltd., Maojiaying and Beijing
Qingpuyuan Vegetables Co. Ltd.,
Liuminying. Both companies are producing
certified organic and green food. The Govt.
of China as per their policy is promoting
three type of food—Safe Agricultural
Product, Green Food and Organic Food. In
China, green food has no conflicts with
organic food; rather the development of
green food plays significant role in the
development of sustainable agriculture in
China and could potentially influence the
organic agriculture. An experienced green
food producer ultimately targets the organic
market as organic producer. Currently, the
certified organic area in China is 4.3 million
ha.
In Inner Mongolia, Dr. Bhattacharyya met
Dr. Zhao Jiwen, Director, Inner Mongolia
Green Food Development Centre.
17
(Dr. P. Bhattacharyya & Dr. Guo Chunmin at
China Organic Certification Centre)
He also visited internationally famous
Mengnin Austatic International Dairy Farm
where milk products are being certified with
Organic Logo. He also visited Sybor Wild
Oatmeal who are producing different Oat
products organically.
Conference on Biodiversity Conservation
– A two days state level conference on
Biodiversity Conservation is scheduled for
21-22 September 2006 at Botany
Department, M.L.V. Government College,
Bhilwara, Rajasthan. Biological diversity is
one of the life supporting systems of the
planet, which is getting depleted with every
passing day and calls for immediate
intervention. The primary objective of this
conference is to concretize expert opinion on
the causes, consequences and solutions of
biodiversity depletion, which would help in
formulating the conservational strategies. For
further details contact Dr. B.L. Yadav,
Organizing Secretary, Department of
Botany, M.L.V. Government College,
Bhilwara, Rajasthan – 311 001. Phone
01482-239970.
Organic Farming Newsletter, September 2006

tSfod [ksrh lwpuk i= 2¼3½
National Workshop on "Agriculturally
Important Microorganisms of NE Region
for Integrated Nutrient and Pest
Management" – A five days National
workshop on Agriculturally Important
Microorganisms of NE Region for Integrated
Nutrient and Pest Management is scheduled
for 9 th to 14 th October 2006 at Institute of
Advanced Study in Science and Technology,
Guwahati. The focal theme of the workshop
is to devise and formulate appropriate
strategies to harvest the potential of
microbial biological systems for effective
nutrient and pest management in different
crops of the North Eastern Region of India.
For further details contact Dr. P. Azad,
Organizing Secretary, Institute of Advanced
Study in Science and Technology (IASST),
Guwahati, Vigyan Path, Paschim Boragaon,
Guwahati – 781 035. Phone 0361-2740687,
Fax 0361-2740659.
18
National Seminar on Organic Farming –
A two days National Seminar on Organic
Farming is scheduled for 30 th to 31 st October
2006 at ICAR Research Complex for NEH
Region, Umiam, Meghalaya. The focal
theme of the seminar is on chalking out the
effective road map for successful
implementation of organic farming strategies
in the North Eastern Hill region. The
technical deliberations will be spread over
five technical sessions : (I) Concept and
scenario of organic farming, (II) Resource
management on organic farming, (III)
Disease and pest management in organic
farming (IV) certification, finance, social and
policy issues and (V) Round table session for
organic road map. For further details and
participation contact Dr. K.M. Bujarbaruah,
Director, ICAR Research Complex for NEH
Region, Umiam, Meghalaya – 793 103,
Phone 0364-2570257, Fax 0364-2570363,
email kmbujarbaruah@rediffmail.com.
System failure, the reason for farmer’s suicides
There have been numerous committees enquiring about the cause for large scale suicides among farmers.
Even the High Court of Bombay is concerned, but none of such enquiries have looked at the serious cause of
“system failure”. The green revolution advised farmers to use more and more of external inputs like seeds,
fertilizers, pesticides. Loans were arranged to enable them to buy these. Once in debt, the farmers continue to
remain under debt for ever. Cost of such inputs kept on increasing without concomitant increase in the value of
their produce. Decreasing soil fertility further complicated their woes. In such situations we should give a
serious thought and base National Policy for Farmers on following objectives:
1. Increase net income of farmers
2. Maintain soil fertility for generations
3. Produce poison-free food for consumers
4. Secure productivity in perpetuity
5. Ensure cost effectiveness to meet competition from likely cheaper imports.
In its draft “Jai Kisan Policy for Farmers” Dr Swaminathan has accepted that conventional agriculture is
not capable to improve productivity further. The Planning Commission in its mid term appraisal of the 10 th plan
agrees that it is necessary to reverse the trend of lowering productivity by adopting new technology. What are
our options? High input intensive, GM based technology is certainly not an answer. Organic farming offers a
viable alternative. The system has already been put to test by thousands of farmers in Maharashtra, Karnataka,
Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, M.P., Uttaranchal and Orissa. Long term experiments conducted world over,
including India (at ICRISAT) has proved that organic system yields almost same under irrigated conditions and
more under marginal lands, rainfed and drought conditions. A complete switch over to organic farming will help
us to attain the five objectives we have placed before us (as above). Moreover this switchover needs no new
investments. The farmers need no loans. Farming becomes a money making preposition, even at the current
market prices. Fortunately the farmers are realizing it and are adopting organic farming as “people’s movement”
as it is in their self interest. I hope that the benefits of organic farming will be appreciated and scientist, teachers,
policy planners, environmentalists and central and state Governments will come forward to support and promote
the movement.
Manohar Parchure
Practicing organic farmer
Organic Farming Newsletter, September 2006

tSfod [ksrh lwpuk i= 2¼3½
A three days workshop on Organic Package
of Practices was organized at Hotel Pride,
Pune during 10-12 July 2006. The workshop
was jointly organized by Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO), National
Center of Organic Farming (NCOF) and
Maharashtra Organic Farming Federation
(MOFF) under FAO's technical Corporation
programme No TCP/IND/3003. MOFF acted
as local host of the programme. 41
Participants representing FAO, Ministry of
Agriculture, GOI, ICAR, SAU’s, selected
NGOs and selected state Governments
participated in the workshop.
Workshop on Organic
Package of Practices
official website www.fao.org.in. Dr. P
Bhattacharya stressed the need for authentic
documentation of precise organic practices
and methodologies and urged that these
should also have authentic scientific basis
with simplicity in application and should be
easily understandable by farmers. Dr.
J.Mahalle, presented a blue print of organic
farming in Maharashtra which has now
spread over more than 6.5 lakh hectare.
First day of the conference was devoted to
field visit of participants to study organic
farming around Pune. Participants had three
hour-long interactions with Shri Balsaver, a
dedicated organic farmer on six acre.
Presentation of package and Practices
subsequest discussions were reserved for the
2
Organic Farming Newsletter, September 2006
19
nd and 3 rd day. Dr. C.D. Mayee, Chairman
ASRB and former Commissioner of
Agriculture Govt. of India, formally
inaugurated the workshop on 11.07.06. Other
dignitaries present on the dais during
inaugural ceremony include Shri Manohar
Parchure, an ardent organic farming
promoter, Dr. P Bhattacharyya Add.
Commissioner (INM) Ministry of
Agriculture, Govt of India and Director
NCOF, Dr. J.Mahalle, Director of Soil
Conservation and Watershed Management,
Government of Maharashtra, Shri Ajay
Rastogi, Coordinator of the programme from
FAO and Shri Vikram Boke, chairman
MOFF.
Dr. C.D.Mayee in his presidential speech
emphasized the need for promotion of
organic farming and invited the participation
of scientists and research institution to
provide sound scientific footing to this
emerging branch of agriculture.
Under FAO’s TCP programme the task of
preparation of package of practices for 20
Welcoming the participants and participating
organization Shri Ajay Rastogi outlined the
mandate of the TCP of FAO and elaborated
the details of information generated under
the project, which is available at FAO's
important crops was entrusted to five
agencies viz: Centre for Indian Knowledge
Systems (CIKS), Chennai, Institute of
Himalayan Environmental Research and
Education, (INHERE) Almora, Uttaranchal,
Development Research Communication and

tSfod [ksrh lwpuk i= 2¼3½
Service Centre, (DRCSC) Kolkata, North
Eastern Region Community Resource
Management Project for Upland Areas
(NERCORMP), Shillong and Maharashtra
Organic arming Federation (MOFF), Pune.
Second session was exclusively devoted to
presentation of Package of Practices. First
presentation was by Ms. R. Sridevi of CIKS
on package of practices of paddy, groundnut,
Okra and tomato for Tamilnadu. This was
followed by package of practices for Birnjal,
Sesam, taro and Paddy presented by Mr.
Santanu Dey of DRCSC. Ms. Savati Bist of
INHERE presented the package of practices
of potato, Mustard, Chilly and Soyabeen for
Uttaranchal
In the post lunch session first Shri Utkarsh
Ghate of MOFF presented the package of
practices of wheat, rice, redgram, sugarcane
and cotton for Maharashtra. Dr.V.J. Darlog
of NERCORMP presented the package of
practices for Large Cardamom, Passion Fruit
Arecanut, pineapple and Ginger in N.E.
region. Chief coordinator of the presentation
session Dr. P.Bhattacharya announced the
composition of five committees of three
members each for in-depth discussion and
finalization of presented package of
practices. The team leaders and the practices
to be finalized were (a) Dr. Krishna Chandra
Regional Director RCOF Bangalore for
CIKS presentation. (b) Dr. R.N.Bisoyi,
Regional Director RCOF Bhubaneshwar for
20
DRCSC presentation. (c) Dr. V.K. Yadav,
Joint Director, IPM, Directorate of Plant
Protection for NERCORMP presentation,
(d) Dr. A.K.Yadav Regional Director RCOF
Nagpur for MOFF presentation and (e) Dr.
A. Thimmaiah, Director, NAPL for INHERE
presentation.
Final day of the workshop started with the
group discussion and package finalization by
five designated groups. Post tea session
started with colorful presentation on various
facets of organic farming by Dr. A.
Thimmaiah Director, Natura
Agroconsultants Pvt Ltd and FAO consultant
on inputs. Dr. A.K. Yadav, Dr. K. Chandra
and Dr. R.N. Bisoyi presented their view
point on package strategy, State Govt.
representatives of West Bengal, Maharashtra
and Tamilnadu also presented their view
point. Post lunch session was on discussion,
interaction and feedback of different
presentations.
Dr. R.K Pathak, Chief Consultant
Summarized the entire workshop and
requested the team leaders to submit their
finalized package of practices by 15.8.06.
Workshop concluded with vote of thanks
from organizers, sponsors and participants
side with the promise to take organic farming
to new heights with greater understanding
and acceptability.
Organic Farming Newsletter, September 2006

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Seminar/ Conferences under
National Project on Organic Farming
Seminar on “Strategies for Successful
Organic Farming” – A two days seminar on
Strategies for Successful Organic Farming
was organized by the Regional Centre of
Organic Farming, Bhubaneshwar at Jaydev
Bhavan, Bhubaneshwar during 5-6 April
2005. The focal theme of the conference was
on defining appropriate strategies for
successful promotion of organic farming in
the Eastern Region of the country. More than
200 scientists, teachers, organic farming
promoters, NGO representatives and central
and State Government officers participated
in the seminar. The seminar was inaugurated
by Dr. B. Senapati, Vice Chancellor, Orissa
University of Agriculture and Technology,
Bhubaneshwar. Smt. R. Chopra, Director
Department of Agriculture and Food
production was present as Guest of Honour.
Keynote address entitled “Why and How
Organic Farming” was delivered by Shri
Ardhendu Sekhar Chatterjee, Executive
Director, DRCSC, Kolkata. Other important
dignitaries participated and deliberated in the
seminar include Dr. M.K. Basu, Director,
WB Forest Development Corporation, Prof.
M.C. Kabi, BCKVV, Mohanpur, Dr. G.N.
Chattopadhyay, Vishwa Bharti, Sri Niketan,
Prof. Radha Mohan, Foundar of
SAMBHAV, Shri Chandan Mukharjee,
SEVA, Kolkata and Dr. G. Chakraborti, Dy
Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture,
Govt of India, New Delhi.
21
Exhaustive deliberations were held over six
technical sessions under the theme: Natural
resource management in organic farming,
Permaculture and usefulness of biodiversity,
Biodynamic agriculture, Certification and
market development, Promotion of organic
farming by central and state Governments
and Successful experiences of different
organic farms. Abstract recommendations of
the conference were:
• Organic package of practices need be
defined for important crops
• Large number of training programme for
farmers
• Dissemination of knowledge on organic
farming in local language
• Massive Government initiative for large
scale availability of organic inputs
• Introduction of Government subsidy for
organic certification.
(Source – Dr. R.N. Bisoyi, RCOF,
Bhubaneshwar)
Seminar on “Resurgence of Traditional
Agriculture” – A two days Seminar on
Resurgence of Traditional Agriculture was
organized by the Regional Centre of Organic
Farming, Bhubaneshwar during 17 – 18
February 2006 at the Institute of Chemical
Engineer’s Auditorium, Jadavpur University,
Kolkata. Prof. S.K. Sanyal, Vice Chancellor
Jadavpur University, Kolkata and Dr. S.K.
Sen, Director, Directorate of Food
Processing Industries and Horticulture
graced the seminar as Chief Guest and Guest
of Honour respectively. While inaugurating
the conference, Dr. S.K. Sanyal stressed
upon the need to bring traditional agriculture
back, blended with modern scientific
understanding for the future of sustainable
agriculture in the country. Importance of
organic systems based on agro-ecological
systems and increased biodiversity was also
underlined for future strategies. Dr. S.K. Sen
emphasized on the growing role of food
Organic Farming Newsletter, September 2006

tSfod [ksrh lwpuk i= 2¼3½
processing units for promotion of organic
export. Shri Ardhendu Sekhar Chatterjee,
Director, DRCSC, Kolkata delivered keynote
address on the “Usefulness of Sustainable
Agriculture Practices through Natural
Resource Management”. Other dignitaries
participated and deliberated in the seminar
include: Prof. Kunal Ghosh, Head Deptt of
Agril. Chem. And Soil Science, Calcutta
University, Dr. G.N. Chattopadhyay, Viswa
Bharti, Dr. T.C. Chaudhury, Director, Tea
Board, Kolkata, Dr. B. Banarjee, Advisor,
National Tea Research Foundation, Kolkata,
Prof M.C. Kabi, BCKVV, Mohanpur and Dr.
D.P. Padhy Co-ordinator, AGRAGAMEE.
Technical discussions and presentations in
the seminar were spanned over five technical
sessions. Theme of these technical sessions
was: Farm management system in traditional
agriculture, Biodiversity maintenance in
traditional agriculture, Certification and
market development in organic farming,
Promotion of organic farming and Successful
case studies on organic farming.
Abstract recommendations of the seminar
were:
• Immediate action needed for wide
publicity of practicing organic farming
systems through electronic media
• Govt of India should consider direct
subsidy to entrepreneurs for
establishment of organic input
production units
• Provision of subsidy for reduction in cost
of certification
• Networking of organic farms under
group certification system to reduce cost
of certification.
22
• Regulation for quality production and
availability of organic inputs.
(Source – Dr. R.N. Bisoyi, RCOF,
Bhubaneshwar)
Seminar on Prospects of Organic Farming
– A two days seminar on "Prospects of
Organic Farming was organized by the
Regional Centre of Organic Farming,
Jabalpur during 26 – 27 April 2006 at
BRBRAITT, BSNL, AV Hall, Jabalpur. The
theme of the conference was focused on
current activities and prospects of organic
farming including market development and
certification of organic produce. Dr. P.
Bhattacharyya, Additional Commissioner
(INM) and Director NCOF inaugurated the
seminar as Chief Guest. Prof. R.B. Sharma,
Director Extension, Indira Gandhi
Agriculture University, Raipur presented
their keynote address as Guest of Honour.
Twenty one presentations were made during
the two days by eminent scientists, organic
farming promoters and policy planners on
various aspects of organic farming such as:
organic input management, biodiversity,
current status and prospects, market
development, certification and successful
case studies. The seminar was aparticipated
by 250 delegates from various universities,
Krishi Vigyan Kendras, Ministry of
Agriculture, Govt of India and State
Agriculture Department officers from
Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Rajasthan
(Source - T.K. Ghosh, RCOF, Jabalpur)
Organic Farming Newsletter, September 2006

tSfod [ksrh lwpuk i= 2¼3½
National Project on Organic Farming
National Project on Organic Farming
(NPOF) is going to celebrate its third birth
day on 01.10.2006. In this short span of two
years the subject of organic agriculture has
gone a sea change. Large numbers of
agricultural universities, Krishi Vigyan
Kendras and non-governmental
organizations have joined hands in this
national programme and are contributing
significantly to the cause of organic farming.
During the period more than 940 training
programmes have been conducted and more
than 20,000 personals have been trained.
More than 200 service providers have started
working and initiated the concept of ICS for
certification under Grower Group
List of service providers appointed during April-Sept. 06
Andhra Pradesh
EFFORT (A Society for the
Development of Agriculture and
Youth)Rajavaram – 523 374,
Markapur Mandal Distt Prakasam
SC, ST, BC and Minorities
Welfare Seva Sangham, M.V.
Rajupalem Karalapalem Distt
Guntur,
Madhya Pradesh
Human Welfare Soc.
Freeganj, Ujjain
Maharashtra
Sadhana Krishi Vigyan Kendra
Badnera, Durgapur,
Distt Amravati –
Chakradhar Gramin Vikas
Pratishthan
44 Sarpanch Nagar, Malegaon
Road, Nanded – 431 605
Community Action for Rural
Development Society (CARD)
At Post Anjangaon Surji
Distt Amravati – 444 705
Shri Chatrapati Sambhaji Raje
Pratishthan Vil Datala, Post
Dahikalamba
Taluka Kandha, Distt Nanded
Chintamani Nisarg Sanvardhan
Sevabhavi Sanstha,
At Post Pingli (Rly Station),
Taluka and Dstt Parbhani
Adiwasi Shaikshnik Sanshodhan
Sanstha At Post and Taluka Sadak
ArjuniDistt Gondia – 441 807
PARYAY Foundation
At post Renavi, Taluka Khanapur
Distt Sangli – 415 311
Gramin Krishi Kranti Sevabhavi
Sanstha
Near Market Committee
At Post and Taluka Umri,
Distt Nanded – 431 807
Jai Ambe Shikshan Prasarak
Mandal, President
Professor Colony,
At Post and Taluka Ghatanji
Distt Yavatmal
Ahilya Devi Prabodhan Mandal
C/O Shri Vittal Dhondiba Walke,
President
ND 120, 1/1 CIDCO,
New Nanded
LOKPANCHAYAT
Savata Mali Nagar, Adva Odha
Sangamner, Distt Ahmednagar –
422 605
DISHA
Krishi Vidnyan Mandal
At Post Shiradhone, Taluka
KandharDistt Nanded –
23
Certification Scheme of NPOP. Large
number of biofertilizer, compost and
vermiculture production centres have been
established. Total certified area which stood
at 1.73 lakh during March 2006, has now
gone well beyond 2.15 lakh ha. 42,000 ha are
has been brought under conversion and
registered with certification agencies by
these service providers in 2006. During the
year 2006-07 (April to September) 24 no of
service providers have been added. For
organization of various trainings and
demonstration activity (including service
providers a sum of Rs.852 lakh. have been
sanctioned. A list of new service providers is
given below:
Kai Vanja Baba Gramin Vikas
Mandal
Sangarsh, Near Bhushan Mangal
Karyalaya, Bhadgaon Road,
Chalisgaon, Disdtt Jalgaon –
Jivan Dhara Bahuddeshiya Sanstha
Deonagar, Digras
Distt – Yavatmal
Suvide Foundation
Krishi Vigyan Kendra
Karad, Taluka Risod,
Distt. Washim – 07251-206078,
222260, 226503, 226513
Manipur
Community Development
Organization,
Wangbal, Lamboithan, Thoubal
Tribal Area Organic farmers
Association
Tamei, Senapati
Senapati Tribal farmers Soc.
Senapati
Community Builders Soc.
Majorkhul, Gatge
Imphal
Manipur Tribals Pioneer
Association
Namdulong, Imphal
Jhumia Farmers Society,
Mantripukhri, East Colony
Imphal
Organic Farming Newsletter, September 2006

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Table 1. Details of various components sanctioned to different agencies under NPOF during 2006-07.
S.No State Agency Number of programmes/component sanctioned
1 Andhra
Pradesh
Deptt of Agriculture, Hyderabad
SC, ST,BC and Minorities Welfare Seva
Sangham, Guntur
Bethesda Homes, Vijayawada
Effort, Martur, Distt Praklasham
KVK, Medak Zaheerabad
NGR, KVK, Guntur
NGOs for service providers
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Cert. Trg
Prodn & QC
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
24
Extension
staff
-
-
-
1
1
5
-
-
2
5
5
4
5
-
Farmers
-
5
5
5
3
5
-
Demo on OI
Demo on
BGS
-
5
5
5
-
-
-
Model
Organic
farm
7
-
-
-
1
1
-
For New
Initiative
(Rs. in lakh)
2 Bihar Deptt of Agriculture, Patna - 2 4 10 7 - 1 - - 37 64.50
3 Himachal CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishva 1 2 2 10 10 - 1 - 3 - 17.61
Pradesh Vidyalaya, Palampur
4 Karnataka University of Agricultural Sciences,
Bangalore
- - - - - - 4 - - - 16.00
Central Tobacco Research Institute, Mysore - - - - - - 1 - - - 4.00
5 Kerala Indian Cardamum Research Inst., Spices
Board, Idukki
- - - - - - - 1.00 - - 1.00
6 Maharashtra KVK, MPKV, Collge of Agriculture Dhule - - - - - - 1 - - - 4.00
MPKV, Rahuri, Ahmednagar
- 2 2 5 10 - 1 - - - 7.45
PDKV, Akola
- - - - - - 1 - - - 4.00
Mahatama Gandhi Samaj Seva Sanstha,
Nanded
- - - - 5 2 - - - - 0.82
Sandhna Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Durgapur,
Amravati
2 2 3 5 5 - - - - - 4.36
JaiBharat Edu Soc., Latur - - - - 5 - - - - - 0.50
CARD, Amravati - - 2 2 5 5 - - - - 2.34
Krishi Mitra Bahu. SSS Sanstha, Yavatmal - - - - 5 - - - - - 0.50
Sh. Chatrapti Sambhaji Rajke Pratishthan,
Nanded
- - - 2 2 - - - - - 0.46
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Service
providers
VC
Hatchery
Total funds
sanctioned
Rs. in lakh
Organic Farming Newsletter, September 2006
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
28.00
1.56
1.95
2.34
5.21
7.61
6.00

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S.No State Agency Number of programmes/component sanctioned
Cert. Trg
Prodn & QC
6 Maharashtra Chintamani Nisarg Sanvardhan SSS, Parbhani - - - 5 5 5 - - - - 1.95
Adiwasi Shaikhnik S. Sanstha, Gondia - - - 5 - - - - - - 0.65
Dharamitra, Wardha - 1 2 4 1 1 - - - - 2.07
KVK, Kharpudi, Jalna - - - - - - 1 - - - 4.00
Vansampada, Khaparkheda, Nagpur - - 2 5 5 5 - - - - 2.73
Paryay Foundation, Sangli - - - 3 5 2 - - - - 1.21
NGOs for service providers - - - - - - - - 15 - 45.00
7 Madhya
Pradesh
Human Welfare Society, Free Ganj Ujjain
Service Provider
8. Manipur Community Development Organization, Wangbal,
Thoubal
25
Extension staff
Farmers
Demo on OI
Demo on BGS
Model Organic
farm
For New
Initiative
(Rs. in lakh)
- 2 3 5 5 5 - - - -
1
- - - - 5 - - - - - 0.50
Tribal area Organic farmers Association, Tamei - - - - 5 - - - - - 0.50
Senapati Tribal Farmers Soc. Senapati - - - - 5 - - - - - 0.50
Community Builders soc, Imphal - - - - 5 - - - - - 0.50
Jhumia Farmers Soc. Imphal - - - - 5 - - - - - 0.50
Human Resources Dev. Soc. Thoubal - - - - 5 - - - - - 0.50
Manipur Tribals Pioneer Assoc., Imphal - - - - 5 - - - - - 0.50
Green Foundation, Imphal - - - - 5 - - - - - 0.50
NGOs for service provider - - - - - - - - 7 - 21.00
9 Orissa Deptt of Agriculture and Food Production,
Bhubaneshwar
- - 10 5 100 50 10 - - 57 148.05
10 Rajasthan Deptt of Agriculture, Jaipur - - 4 - - - 4 - - - 17.56
11 Uttar Pradesh Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Univ. Agril and Tech.
- - - - - - - - - 1 20.00
Meerut
12 Uttaranchal Deptt of Agril. Dehradun 2 - 5 25 500 5 5 40.00 20 1+75 329.52
13 West Bengal Deptt of Agriculture - - - - 50 50 - - 20 - 73.00
Cert. Trg = 10 days training for certification agencies and ICS, Prodn & QC = 10 days training on production and quality control of organic inputs, Extension staff = 5 days training for extension staff, farmers = 2
days farmers training, Demo on OI = Field demonstration on organic inputs, FD on BGS = Field demonstration on biogas slurry
Service providers
VC Hatchery/BF
Total funds
sanctioned
Rs. in lakh
4.14
3.00
Organic Farming Newsletter, September 2006

tSfod [ksrh lwpuk i= 2¼3½
Global Development of Organic
Agriculture: Challenges and Prospects
Edited by N Halberg, Danish Centre for
Organic Farming, Denmark;
H F Alroe, Danish Centre for Organic
Farming, Denmark; M T Knudsen, Danish
Centre for Organic Farming, Denmark;
2006, 384 pages HB 1845930789, £55.00 /
$100.00 - Agriculture and food systems,
including organic agriculture, are undergoing a
technological and structural modernization,
strongly influenced by growing globalization.
Organic agricultural movements can be seen as
a tangible effort towards more sustainable
development. However, there are large
differences between, on the one hand,
industrialized farming and consumption based
on global food chains and, on the other,
smallholder farmers and resource poor people
primarily linked in local food markets in lowincome
countries. This book provides an
overview of the potential role of organic
agriculture in a global perspective. The book
discusses in-depth political ecology, ecological
justice, ecological economics and free trade
with new insights on the challenges for organic
agriculture. This is followed by the potential
role of organic agriculture for improving soil
fertility, nutrient cycling and food security and
reducing veterinary medicine use, together
with discussions of research needs and the
importance of non-certified organic
agriculture.
Biopesticides and Pest Management Edited
by Opender Koul, G.S. Dhaliwal, S.S.
Marwaha and Jatinder Kaur Arora.
Published by Campus Books International,
New Delhi (in two volumes) – Biopesticides
are fast coming up as alternative to toxic
chemical pesticides. Biopesticides are selective
in their action and do not cause any harm to the
natural enemies of pest. The book
"Biopesticides and Pest Management" is
devoted to this emerging science and is the
outcome of a conference "Biopesticides-
Book Reviews
26
Emerging Trends" (BET 2001), organized by
Punjab State Council for Science and
Technology. The lead chapters in this volume
deals with wide ranging subjects of
importance, including emerging trends of
biopesticides in pest management, microbial
pesticides, ecologically sound botanical
pesticides, development of improved Bacillus
thuringensis based biopesticides,
mycopesticides etc. Effects of different
pesticides on natural enemies of pests has also
been touched and discussed. The book
provides good insight on the status of
technologies available and the opportunities
for us in the future.
Organic Tea: Cultivation and Marketing,
by N. Ghosh Hajra, Published by
International Book Distributing Co. ISBN –
81-8189-129-7 Pages 243, Price Rs. 1195/-
With the increasing awareness about the
benefits of organic products, there is an spurt
in demand not only for the products but also
for the information for production of organic
crops. The book entitled "Organic Tea:
Cultivation and Marketing" covers all
important aspects of organic tea production,
market, consumption, foreign trade, supply
deficits, prices and premiums distributed over
12 chapters. The book is a useful compilation
of information aimed at a range of readers,
from planters, cultivating tea organically or
considering converting, to advisors,
researchers and students who require not only
detailed information but also access to source
material. Educationalists in agricultural
universities and institutes will find the book a
useful teaching tool. Efforts have also been
made in this book to introduce to the common
people all about this wonderful beverage
including its process of manufacturing. In most
of the chapters, relevant information has been
provided in boxes. In brief this book is an
excellent compilation for all the stakeholders
of tea in general and for organic growers in
particular. (AKY).
Organic Farming Newsletter, September 2006