Imagining an Organic Udaipur - March 18 the Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture & Technologys leading organic farming scholars generously hosted a Shakti Sunday-requested discussion on possible steps toward making Udaipur district a 100% organic zone like Uttarakhand State. See discussion agenda below. A summary of contributions will posted soon, but other interested groups and individuals are invited to present their suggestions as well. MARCH 18 DISCUSSION AGENDA RE “ORGANIC UDAIPUR” – AN ASPIRATIONAL/EDUCATIONAL STRATEGY Purpose of meeting: To imagine policy frameworks, conversion scenarios and market development strategies that could make Udaipur a model organic district along the lines of statewide efforts in Uttarakhand, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Mizoram within the next five years. Objective justifications for “Organic Udaipur” • rural uplift (especially among small landholders), • public health (especially among farm families and urban maternal/child populations), • lake/groundwater protection from agrochem pollution - eutrophication/herbicides/pesticides, • enhanced food security, cf, impact of rising fossil fuel costs on transport, agrochem production, etc • eco-tourism branding & promotion, Additional village uplift aspects to an Organic Udaipur initiative: Value-added rural cottage industries: organic cheeses, mushrooms, baked goods, gourmet poultry, pickles (e.g., organic achar lines), jams, sauces, neem/Karanj/custard apple seed bio-pesticides, labor-saving agricultural tools, online coop fulfillment centers for organic village herbs/dyes/medicinal plants, organic village eco-tourism, urban farming projects. Current Situation in Udaipur Nearly 70% of our villages grow default organic crops, but we barely have enough identifiably organic produce in town to reliably supply a few small restaurants let alone our many 3/4/5-star hotels, not to mention the town’s vast middleclass. The default organic farmers are largely tribal and receive no more and are frequently paid less than for agrochem intensive crops. India’s organic product buyers have now reached 20 crore, mostly in the big metros, which local farmers have no access to. How to build those bridges? ISSUES : Certification Viable strategies for food processors, schools, hotels/restaurants, hospitals, global distributors >> Collective certification schemes: IFOAM, Indian Participatory Guarantee System, ??? >> Necessity/viability/expense of third party soil testing??? Viable strategies for local consumer population >> Trust-based brand/shop/distribution network certification c/o shop integrity & visitable farming venues ISSUES: Market Development Developing Secondary Product Producers Seek Rotary Club/business school collaboration: 90% of local management schools train students for mega-firm incorporation rather than independent entrepreneurship & business ingenuity. Cooperation with more visionary business folks & universities could yield interesting innovative “organic product” opportunities Developing Public Awareness & Market Demand: PR & education programs for local hospitals, schools, hotels, other high profile/high volume customers??? Developing Public Education Strategies: Enlisting sustained media collaboration re organic conversion’s effects on local health, wealth & ecology; Promotion of beautiful poster child “default organic” communities like Jaisamand district villages; Persuasive Points >> Pollution abatement: curbs effects of agro-chemical runoff on lakes, streams and groundwater quality >> Public health protection: lessens carcinogenic agents in the local ecosystems & food supply >> Small biz promotion: Offers local food processers/product developers significant PR & supply edge Organic Politics: Likely Allies & Adversaries: Friends: Who are our natural allies in this effort and how do we involve them? Foes: What are the major sources and strength of anti-organic opposition? How do we deal with them? Factors needed to create a credible integrated “Organic Udaipur” strategy >> Policy support from the administration: Collector, City Council (?), state-level officers (?), >> Policy explanation and debate in media – What kind of cooperation can we expect? >> Policy advocacy in NGOs, schools and universities – Are there any natural allies to help with this? >> Popularly supported conversion scenario – How to develop the plan and organize the coalition? >> Realistic time frame – Targeting 2020 for 100% compliance??? >> Our little “committee” here has no funds and little discretionary time. What groups and individuals are actually being paid to do this kind of work? >> What else would we need to plan, organize, think about? Synchronistic Recent Headline: Farmers’ Groups Give Wish List to Parties - Times of India | 7/3/2014 timesofindia.indiatimes/india/Farmers-groups-give-wish-list-to-parties/articleshow/31566609.cms NEW DELHI: More than 100 farmers organisations from about 14 states on Thursday presented a charter of demands to political parties for their consideration while preparing the manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections. The groups demanded guarantee of minimum income for farm households, ecologically sustainable farming, shift to organic farming and control of rural communities over agricultural resources, including land, water, forests and seeds. They also demanded that open-air release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) garbed as field trials be stopped. Invited participants (partial) Dr. SK Sharma and Dr. PL Maliwal, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology Dr. RC Mehta, Tupavan Sri NC Jain, Forest Dept Sri Rohit Jain, ofai.org & Banyan Roots Organics Sri Pannalal Patel & Pawan Vaishnav, Udyogini.org Sri Kapil Vyas, Morarka Foundation Sri Eklingnath Paliwal, Merijanmbhumi Ms’s Rita Dixit-Kubiak & Prem Dixit Nag, Big Medicine Charitable Trust Sris BL Kabra & W. David Kubiak, Shakti Sundays Reference doc: Organic Farming in India (According to current Indian government website information) Growing Area Organic farming in India started receiving focused attention from 2004-05 when National Project on Organic Farming (NPOF) was launched. In 2004-05, the area under organic farming was 42,000 hectares. By March 2010 that area had increased to 1.08 million hectares. In addition, another 3.40 million hectares is wild forest harvest collection area. Thus the total area under organic certification by March, 2010 was 4.48 million hectares, which is 25-fold increase in last 6 years. 7.56 lakh hectares of cultivated land is certified organic while 3.2 lakh hectares is under conversion. The States having the largest area under organic farming are Madhya Pradesh (4.40 lakh hectares), Maharashtra (1.50 lakh hectares) and Orissa (95,000 hectares). Cotton is the single largest crop accounting for nearly 40 percent of total area followed by rice, pulses, oilseeds and spices. India is the largest organic cotton grower in world, and produces nearly 50 percent of the world’s organic cotton. Nearly 6.00 lakh farmers in 920 grower groups produce 18.00 lakh tonnes of different organic commodities valued at Rs. 56-40 crores at farm gate price. Out of 18 lakh tonnes organic produce, 54000 tonnes valued at Rs. 561 crores was exported. Value of exports which was Rs. 301 crores in 2006-07 has increased to 525.5 crores in 2009-10. States Adopting Organic Farming: Nine States have drafted organic farming policies. Out of these, four States - Uttarakhand, Nagaland, Sikkim and Mizoram - have declared their intention to go 100 percent organic. Sikkim has already converted nearly 40 percent of its total cultivated area under organic and has set target to convert entire State to organic by 2015. Other States have also defined schemes to promote organic farming. Recently Bihar has sanctioned a Rs. 256 crores scheme for promotion of organic farming from 2011 to 2015. This scheme is a 100% State Plan and all funds shall be borne by State Government. Promotion of Organic Farming: Organic farming is being promoted under National Project on Organic Farming (NPOF), National Horticulture Mission (NHM) and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY). Main components under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana and National Horticulture Mission (NHM) to assist organic farming are financial assistance to States for adoption, certification & vermi-compost production. Regulatory Mechanisms: For quality assurance India has the Foreign Trade Development and Regulation Act for exports and Agriculture Produce Grading, Marketing and Certification Act in place for export, import and domestic markets. Important components of assistance being provided under NPOF include assistance to input production (large compost plants and bio-fertilizers), quality control of organic inputs, training sessions, PGS facilitation, biological soil health assessment and awareness creation. Policy Motivation: While crop yield maximization to meet growing demand for food grains is critical, agricultural productivity has to be sustained long term. There has been severe soil health deterioration due to removal of crop residues and indiscriminate agrochemical use, aided by their distorted prices. To address these issues, the Government proposes to promote organic farming methods that combine modern technology with traditional farming practices like green manuring, biological pest control & weed management.
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 12:13:27 +0000
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