Latest news with #NationalProgrammeforOrganicProduction
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Cotton export scam: Centre acts against 5 certifiers in state
Bhopal: A suspected scam involving the export of ordinary cotton falsely certified as organic has surfaced in the state, prompting the central govt to initiate action against five certification agencies. Responding to a question by Congress leader Digvijaya Singh in the Rajya Sabha, the central govt confirmed on Aug 1 that five certification bodies had faced punitive action over irregularities in the certification of organic cotton. Singh asked about the number of cases of organic cotton scam which have come to light so far in Madhya Pradesh. The number of FIRs which have been registered against certification agencies in the case of export of ordinary cotton in the name of organic cotton in the state, and the action that has been taken against them so far and the number of certification agencies that have been reinstated, out of those certification agencies whose registrations were cancelled, and the basis for their reinstatement. The minister of state in the ministry of commerce and industry, Jitin Prasada, stated in a written reply that the system for organic certification under National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) involves a third-party certification system of organic processes and organic produce, which was certified across the supply chain by a certification body (govt or private). Cotton is covered under NPOP only till production level. Thereafter, the post production process including ginning, processing etc is done under private certification, and not covered under NPOP. In 2022, due to irregularities in certification of organic cotton, accreditation of two certification bodies was terminated while two certification bodies were suspended. In 2024, one more certification body was suspended for one year, for irregularities in the certification operations, including certification of organic cotton. With respect to the two terminated certification bodies, the said certification bodies are not in existence, under NPOP. With respect to the two certification bodies suspended in 2022, their period of suspension was for 6 months and 12 months. After the completion of this period, and complying with the accreditation requirements under NPOP, they were reinstated in 2024. In case of the certification body suspended in 2024, the period of operation of the suspension is for a period of 1 year, with effect from Oct 1, 2024, which is yet to be over, thus the said certification body is not in operation. The issue was also raised by Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Umang Singhar while speaking after the chief minister's address. In a passing reference, the LOP said if India wants to establish a strong global identity and maintain its credibility abroad, then the quality of our exported goods must meet international standards. He raised concerns over quality issues, citing frequent rejections and multiple scams ranging of crores and urged the chief minister to pay attention to these irregularities.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
TNAU training programmes on organic farming a window of opportunity for export-minded farmers
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, through its monthly training on organic farming for the last four years, has been providing beneficial inputs to a substantial number of prospective exporters among participating agriculturists. The farmers taking part in the trainings at the TNAU's Nammazhvar Organic Farming Research Centre are exposed to the export market for organically produced agricultural and horticultural crops in European Union and other countries, alongside receiving orientation on principles of organic farming, organic nutrient, weed, pest and disease management, and production of organic inputs. TNAU's programmes have benefitted farmers undertaking organic cultivation of grapes in Thondamuthur in Coimbatore district, and varieties of vegetables in Gobichettipalayam-Sathyamangalam belt, Head of the Nammazhvar Organic Farming Research Centre, TNAU, Coimbatore, said. The farmers are familiarised with the norms of APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority), a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, through the programme. According to officials of Department of Seed Certification and Organic Certification, coconut farmers are raising organic crop in over 10,000 hectares in Udumalpet and Pollachi belt in the Western region. In Udumalpet and surroundings, organic coconut crops grown in 4,500 hectares are registered under NPOP (National Programme for Organic Production) that qualifies the cultivators to export their products. The NPOP standards for crop production have been recognised by the European Commission and Switzerland as equivalent to their country's standards and are also accepted by Great Britain. There is an MRA (Mutual Recognition Agreement) for organic products with Taiwan, officials said. As for the PGS (Participatory Guarantee System) under the aegis of Ministry of Agriculture, farmers have raised organic moringa, a variety of vegetable crops and also coconut, which could be sold in the domestic market, in about 1,600 hectares in Tiruppur district, official sources said. The Quality Control Laboratories that the State Government has planned to establish in Coimbatore, Chennai, Tuticorin and Madurai at a cost of Rs. 6.16 crore to maintain the quality of organically grown crops through an in-depth analysis of residues and metal presence is expected to accord a further thrust to organic farming aimed at export market, official sources added.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Over 22,000 ryots certified for cultivating organic produce in Andhra Pradesh
In a stride toward sustainable agriculture, the Andhra Pradesh State Organic Products Certification Authority (APSOPCA) has certified more than 22,000 farmers, cultivating nearly 31,000 hectares in A.P. and other southern states in the current year. The move has enabled the production of over 1.5 lakh metric tonnes of certified organic and good agricultural produce, unlocking access to premium domestic and international markets. This achievement underscores APSOPCA's growing impact since its establishment in 2022. The APSOPCA is actively transforming the State's agriculture sector through three major certification programmes that support eco-friendly farming and higher farmer incomes, Dr. Yadlapalli Satish, Director, APSOPCA told The Hindu. Dr. Satish explained that under the IndG.A.P. (India Good Agricultural Practices) scheme, benchmarked with international GLOBALG.A.P standards and accredited by the Quality Council of India, the APSOPCA certified 3,495 farmers cultivating 2,621 hectares, generating 9,219 metric tonnes of produce in 2024–25. These products are eligible for export to over 130 countries. Through the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), recognised by the EU, Great Britain, Switzerland, and more than 50 countries, APSOPCA certified 18,953 farmers on 28,282 hectares producing 1,42,248 metric tonnes of organic output across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. PGS-India scheme Under the PGS-India (Participatory Guarantee) scheme, a participatory model backed by the National Centre for Organic and Natural Farming, 335 farmers from 55 local groups were certified across 138 hectares, empowering village-level certification processes. The Director observed that, beyond certification, the APSOPCA has developed Traceability 2.0, a web and mobile app-based system that ensures end-to-end transparency from farm to consumer, helping build trust and enhance marketability. Certified organic products command a 20% to 30% higher market price, creating better economic outcomes for farmers. Dr. Satish said that the APSOPCA facilitates seamless collaboration among stakeholders including farmer groups, traders, exporters, and government agencies. 'With a mission to revolutionise agriculture, APSOPCA is not only strengthening food safety and sustainability but also emerging as a national model for organic certification and market integration,' he observed. For more information, interested persons can visit or contact apsopcadir@ or 8074707792.
Time of India
31-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Gujarat's certified organic farming area halves in 2 yrs
Gandhinagar: The area under certified organic farming in Gujarat has shrunk dramatically in just two years, more than halving from 9.36 lakh hectares in 2022–23 to 4.37 lakh hectares now. The data, released by the Union govt in Parliament, tracks land certified under the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP). Despite the fall, Gujarat still ranks fourth nationally in certified organic farming. However, the state has seen a rise in natural farming, with nearly 8 lakh hectares now under this method. NPOP is a certification scheme implemented by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under the Union ministry of commerce and industry. The scheme sets standards for organic farming, certification processes, and the accreditation of certification bodies. Despite this slide, Gujarat still ranks fourth in the country for certified organic farming area. Madhya Pradesh continues to lead with 10.13 lakh hectares, followed by Maharashtra at 9.67 lakh hectares and Rajasthan at 5.52 lakh hectares. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad Interestingly, the drop in organic farming comes at a time when natural farming, a related but distinct chemical-free method, gaining momentum across Gujarat. Official state data shows that over 7.92 lakh hectares are currently under natural farming, adopted by more than 9.71 lakh farmers. Dang, in south Gujarat, has even been declared a 100% natural farming district. "Natural and organic farming are both chemical-free farming methods, but there has been a major push toward using traditional inputs like cow dung and cow urine, which are central to natural farming," said Ramesh Ruparelia, a trainer who works with farmers across India. He added that while official organic certification may be on the decline, the broader trend of chemical-free farming could be on the rise due to natural methods gaining favour. Natural farming avoids external inputs entirely, focusing instead on encouraging microbial activity and decomposition of the soil surface. Organic farming, on the other hand, uses compost, manure, and other permitted substances and must comply with stringent certification rules under the NPOP.
Fibre2Fashion
30-07-2025
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
Organic certification under NPOP spans 31 Indian states/UTs: Govt
The National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) is not confined to Madhya Pradesh but extends across 31 states and union territories (UTs) of India, with 4,712 active organic grower groups comprising approximately 19,29,243 farmers, as of July 19, 2025, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. These groups are certified by accredited bodies under NPOP and cultivate a variety of crops including cotton, cereals, pulses, oilseeds, tea, coffee and spices. Clarifying recent misleading statements, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) said that it does not provide any subsidies for organic cultivation under NPOP, debunking claims of ₹50,000 per hectare support as baseless, the ministry said in a press release. APEDA has clarified that organic certification under the NPOP spans 31 States/UTs of India, covering over 19 lakh farmers across 4,712 grower groups cultivating various crops including cotton. The programme operates through 37 certification bodies with stringent checks. Refuting misleading claims, APEDA reaffirmed the credibility of NPOP and denied any subsidy provision. NPOP employs a stringent third-party certification system recognised by the European Commission, Switzerland, Great Britain, and accepted by Taiwan under a mutual recognition arrangement. Currently, 37 certification bodies, including 14 state bodies, operate in India under this system. Internal Control Systems (ICS) under NPOP conduct biannual internal inspections of farmers, complemented by annual audits by Certification Bodies (CBs) and unannounced inspections by NAB through APEDA. Despite these robust checks, some malpractices have been reported. In response, APEDA has tightened regulations, including legal and procedural reforms, zone-based certification for cotton, and upcoming mobile app-based inspections. APEDA reaffirmed its commitment to a credible and transparent certification system, stating that violators are investigated and penalised in accordance with NPOP regulations. Launched in 2001 by the Department of Commerce, NPOP was designed to facilitate organic product exports, with APEDA acting as the implementing secretariat. In 2005, the grower group certification system was introduced to accommodate small and marginal farmers. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)
