Organic Farming…………….attaining the future secure mode…….

”
Dr. Kusmaria1

State Policy on Organic Farming in

Madhya Pradesh

January 2010

Ministry of Farmers’ Welfare and Agriculture Development

Government of Madhya Pradesh
Bhopal

1
Dr. Ramkrishna Kusmaria, PhD (Agri. Economics) is the present Minister of Farmers’ welfare and
Agriculture Development, Gov. MP

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 Content
Message from Chief Minister.……………………………………………
Message from Minister of Agriculture…………………………………..
Acknowledgement…………………………………………………………..
Contents……………………………………………………………………….
List of abbreviations…………………………………………………………
Annexure………………………………………………………………………
Key definitions……………………………………………………………….
Frequently Asked Questions………………………………………………
1.00 Preamble…………………………………………………………………
2.00 State Commitment……………………………………………………
3.00 Vision……………………………………………………………………
4.00 Policy Goals……………………………………………………………
5.00 Organic Farming…………………………………………………………
6.00 Statutory Obligations………………………………………………….
7.00 Organic Inputs…………………………………………………………
8.00 Converting Certified Organic Farm Commodities
into High Value Brands………………………………………………………
9.00 State Organic Mission………………………………………………….
10.00 Developing Organic Producers’ Institutions………………………
11.00 State Level Organic Farming Research
and Development Institute………………………………………………..
12.00 Convergence to Optimize the Efforts…………………………….
13.00 Incentives…………………… ………………………………………..
14.00 Consumer awareness………………………………………………..

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 Message from Chief Minister

The “Policy on Organic Farming 2010” unfolds a panoramic view of the new
age agriculture arguably going back to basics of time tested technologies from
Vedic period till few decades ago. The present time calls for a paradigm shift
from the conventional to pragmatic views in terms of attaining the super goal of a
more sustainable and ever green yet safe planet earth.

At the dawn of new decade in the new millennium, I am delighted to unfold our
strong resolve to “make the farm sector profitable for those to whom it
matters the most”. Our resolve this time is illustrated in the new policy which
covers a wide spectrum of issues connecting the global concerns with local
actions.

I wish that the Policy on “Organic Farming – 2010” shall be the harbinger of
growth to realize my dream of “Swarnim Madhya Pradesh”

Shivraj Singh Chauhan

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 Message from the Minister of Farmers’ Welfare
and Agriculture Development

The “Policy on Organic Farming 2010” assures the “future safe mode” to
agriculture development and farmers’ welfare. This further assures a “seamless
transition” from a backward, low production potential and unsustainable
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agriculture to a forward looking, high return unit area, input and investment,
pragmatic and yet sustainable farm sector economy. The dream of “Swarnim
Madhya Pradesh” shall no more a mere dream, the strong resolve of the
government with an inclusive and overarching framework creating an enabling
environment to make it real. When people “from Copenhagen to Kotma” the
remotest corner of the state were busy debating the issue of climate change and
its implication to the survival of the humankind in the language and phraseology
suitable to the debating contingents, we toiled through tumultuous issues of
going organic in the farm sector. The policy delve on the issue of soil health from
wide angle perspective to preserve the nature’s gift, for the future generations,
yet reap the rich harvest for the present day population. It enshrines the Vedic
ethos wherein the Kamadhenu blesses one and all, the Kalpvruksha grants all
the wishes and the “Mother Nature in her fulsome whole” provides the
sustenance to all the creatures in her lap. It covers the more modern issues of
offering guarantee to the consumers for “safe and nutritious food”, all other
commodities coming from the farms, assures the primary producers a
“meaningful return for their toil”, connect hyper markets with primary
producers and repose the confidence in both the ends of the spectrum.

The new policy promulgates the paradigm of “end – to – end” solution and
encompasses the strategy working on whole “value chain”; it promises to
convert the “low priced farm commodities in to high priced brands”.
I am delighted to be the part of the process wherein my thoughts reaches the
trajectories I confide to attain and take along the farm economy and the primary
producers, millions of women farmers, landless agricultural labourers, small and
marginal contingents to higher orbits of mainstream economy.
I wish that my dreams are their realities.
Dr. Ramkrishna Kusmariya

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 Message from the Minister of State for
Farmers’ Welfare and Agriculture Development

I believe that the “Policy on Organic Farming 2010” is declared at a time when
the issue of climate change and sustainable agriculture is at the fore of the
thinking of the contemporary world. The new policy domain includes all the
essential ingredients for accelerating the “growth rates in the farm sector” and
yet remains within the “safe realms of sustainable development”. The state’
economy shall only get impetus when agriculture receives the due attention by all
stakeholders.

I wish that the new policy “fructifies in comparatively shorter span of time”
with its speedy and realistic implementation, institutionalization of the processes
it divulge and attracts investments from wherever necessary to accelerate the
process.

It provides enough room to scientific academia, trade and industry and above all
the rural youth to partake in the process, convert the weakness in to
opportunities and remove the blemish of backwardness from the face of state’
farm sector forever.

Brajendra Pratap Singh

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 Acknowledgement

The Policy on Organic Farming 2010 encompassing all contemporary and

futuristic issues divulging the portfolio of Organic Farming world over and yet
very relevant in the local context of each and every village in the state of Madhya
Pradesh is an outcome of the meaningful discourses of the intellect in the field of
sustainable agriculture, rural development, planners, implementers and farmers.

The most upcoming and upright opinions, conceptualizing the missing connects
between the global issues and local actions and above all the intellectual
anchoring done by Shree Arun R Joshie, Head, National Livelihood
Resources Institute, Gramin Vikas Trust are highly acknowledged.

The intellectual contribution of the Members of the Committee formed by the

Ministry of Farmers’ Welfare and Agriculture Development especially of Dr. G.S.
Kaushal, Ex Director of Agriculture are sincerely acknowledged. The efforts of
the team of Scientists from the Krishi Vishwa Vidhyalaya for deciphering the
policy document in vernacular Hindi is highly acknowledged.

The intellectual contributions, logistical support managed by Shri Umesh

Sharma Special Assistant to the Minister of Farmers’ Welfare and Agriculture
Development and Shri Kapil Pagnis a development professional in arranging
the numerous meetings, discussions, steering the consultations and availing the
facilities to work against time are sincerely acknowledged.

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 ABBERVIATIONS
APEDA : Agriculture Produce Export Promotion Agency
ATMA : Agriculture Technology Management Agency
CBO : Community Based Organization
CBs : Certified Bodies
CCB : Central Cooperative Bank
CER : Certified Emission Reduction
CSO : Civil Society Organization
DOSA : Development of Sustainable Agriculture
EU : European Union
FPC : Farmers Producers Company
GAP : Good Agriculture Practices
GDP : Gross Domestic Product
GGC : Growers Group Certification
GHG : Green House Gases
GMO : Genetically Modified Organization
ICS : Internal Control System
IFOAM : Internal Forum for Organic Agriculture
Movement
ISO : International Standards Organization
ITES : Information Technology Enable Services
JAS : Japanese Agriculture Standards
ITK : Indigenous Technology Knowledge
KVK : Krishi Vighyan Kendra
KNG : Kamdhenu Natural Gas
MiC : Methyl iso Cyanide
MFP : Minor Forest Produces
MFI : Micro Finance Institutions
MSW : Municipal Solid Waste
NGO : Non Government Organization
NRAA : National Rainfed Area Authority
NOP : National Organic Programme

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NPOP : National Programme On Organic Product
NTFP : Non Timbre Forest Produce
OM : Organic Matter
PGS : Participatory Guarantee Scheme
RKVY : Rashtiya Krishi Vikas Yojna
RRB : Regional Rural Bank
SHGs : Self Help Group
SOC : Soil organic Carbon
SOM : Soil Organic Matter
QC : Quality Control
USP : Unique Selling Point
USDA : United State Development Agency
VOs : Voluntary Organizations

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Key definitions

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Frequently Asked Questions

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1.00 Preamble
1.10 Madhya Pradesh signifies the heart of India, bestowed with ever flowing and
most reverend rivers like “Narmada”, “Betwa” “Ken and “Chambal”, rich diversity
of flora and fauna, picturesque forests of high value Teak, Sal, Bamboo, vast
grasslands with heart rendering wild life in their natural habitat, yet local and
original communities living in harmony with mother nature ever since human
civilization.
1.20 The vast expanse of great ranges of Vidhyanchal and Satpura, highly
productive plains of Malwa, ravines of Chambal and hills of Kamore, rich heritage
of Bundelkhand all provides unique opportunities for its development.
1.30 The state has unique distinction of earning huge foreign exchange through
high value exports of farm produce like soybean DOC, soybean oil, variety of
pulses, best quality bread wheat, fruits like mango, banana, vegetables of all
types and seasons, spices, condiments, aromatic and medicinal herbs, produce
from forests both timber and non timber, minor forest produce like leaves, fibre,
natural dyes and many products of plant and animal origin. Yet the depending
population remain in the clutches of poverty and state bears a stigma of under
developed region in the country.
1.40 The state has 11 agro – climatic zones, with > 20 million ha of gross
cropped area with cropping intensity in excess of 135%. The state has over 40%
irrigated area and possess large portfolio of crops seasonal, perennial and
perishable.
1.50 The state occupies prime position in terms of having largest area under
certified organic farms, besides this the areas with extremely low external and
chemical input, agriculture of tribal population both in the eastern and western
extremes of the state, natural grasslands, forests proves to be organic and or
natural niches by “default”. The external input use especially inorganic
fertilizers, agro – chemicals and hybrids and genetically modifies species remain
well below national average2.

2
The agriculture scenario of the state suggest that the inorganic fertilizer use in terms of NPK is 52 kg ha -1
as against national average of 89.8 kg ha -1 and ¼th of agriculturally advanced states like Punjab (210 kg NPK
ha-1). The agro – chemical use remain as low as 0.178 kg ha -1 as against national average of 0.44 kg ha -1.
The state’ agrochemical consumption is 10 – 25 times below Japan and USA, which are the two largest
importers of organic food.

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1.60 Despite the lowest consumption of the nasty agro – chemicals, the state
bears the deep scars of Bhopal gas Tragedy, which is one of the most dreadful of
the man made tragedy of genocide. The ill famous MiC 3 meant for use in
agriculture proved counter productive and provides all the reasons to reduce the
use of such inputs for productivity enhancement.
1.70 Ecosystem4 consists of mainly floral and faunal biodiversity, habitat diversity
and landscape conservation. The findings of many studies suggest that organic
farming clearly performs better than conventional farming in respect to floral and
faunal diversity. Due to the ban of synthetic pesticides and Nitrogen-fertilizers in
many of the developed nations, organic farming systems provide potentials that
result in positive effects.
1.80 Farm economy in the past few decades was seen as growth inhibiting in the
overall national economy. The GDP oriented thinking has clearly shown that the
current rate of growth of economy is slower in the farm sector. The overall
contribution of agriculture in the national GDP and or state GDP is lower than
expected, still the level of dependency on agriculture remains high.

1.90 Recognizing the role of agriculture in the overall development of the state
economy, the government of Madhya Pradesh has taken several pragmatic,
futuristic initiatives. Agriculture in the state comprises of a conglomerate of
several farm and non-farm activities, which support livelihood of those dependent
on it. Organic farming shall play a vital role in the state agriculture. Hence the
state is obliged to come up with a comprehensive policy on Organic Farming.

2.00 State Commitment:

3
MiC – Methyl iso Cyanide a chemical compound used by Union Carbide to produce insecticide in its
production facility at Bhopal, MP got released on the ill fated night of Dec, 3 1983 directly killing hundreds
of inhabitants around the factory and make thousands, blind and chronic ill forever. The generations born
after the catastrophe remain challenged due to the long lasting ill effects of the incidence and give a living
testimony of such evils.
4
Incidence have been reported from many places wherein indiscriminate use of nasty agro – chemicals
and pesticides have killed wild life, natural flora and fauna e.g. peacocks (national bird) were killed in large
number in of the district in MP eating treated seeds from the fields;

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2.10 The state government had reverberated a comprehensive and cohesive
commitment to convert the existing agriculture in to a profitable venture for
millions of small holders, marginal farmers, landless and agriculture labours in
the year 2009 under which, serious thoughts on various issues related resource
management, market reforms, technology generation and dissemination,
breaking barriers of yield through effective and harmonious research and
development efforts, attaining a healthy and upwardly spiralling growth rate
comparable with forward looking states in the country. The Department of
Farmers’ Welfare and Agriculture Development, Department of Horticulture and
Food Processing, Department of Animal Husbandry, Department of Fisheries
and other allied sectors identified the areas of concern specific to the their
domain, which needs intervention of the state government, and prepared a
comprehensive strategy to fulfil the state commitment.
2.20 MP State Organic Farming Policy is the statement of intent to create,
facilitate, and strengthen the enabling environment for developing integrated
value chains of the organic farm produce encompassing end-to-end solutions for
both primary producers and consumers. The policy entails on “farm – to – fork”
approach reassuring abundant supply of “healthy food for all”. The policy
statement provides concurrent thinking of the state with its futuristic, pragmatic
pro-farmer initiatives.
2.30 The policy enshrines the spirit of developing organic farming as an apt
answer to many burning issues like increasing threats to agriculture due to
devastating impacts of global climate change, ever spiralling costs of production
and associated ill effects of skewed subsidy regime applicable to external
agriculture inputs, increasing ingress of trans – national players in the domain of
agribusiness, increasing significance of global research and development efforts,
neo – colonization of the global food market and diminutive, conservative and
conventional technologies offered to small holders, marginal farmers and
agrarian community at large. The policy endows long term commitment to
creating opportunities for the rural community engaged in primary production
activities and formally interfacing with industry on equal terms to share the
benefits of value added domain in the agriculture sector.

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2.40 The policy proposes a pragmatic vision, achievable set of targets, proposes
niche areas, customized strategies to develop value chains of the organically
produces farm commodities and evolves mechanisms to convert the lowly paying
“farm commodities” in to most sought after “high value brands” “ultimately
declaring itself as organic state”.
3.00 Vision:
3.10 “Capitalizing inherent potential by converting weakness and threats of low
production agriculture in to booming opportunities through Organic Farming
attaining sustainability by agro – eco system management and harnessing
hyper markets for premium farm products”
3.20 The vision reiterates converting Madhya Pradesh as one of the leading
states in the systematic and scientific, yet sustainable organic state, wherein the
farming communities derive their livelihoods, produce safe contamination free
food, conserve natural resources, manage soil health, redeem safe ground and
surface water and generate new employment avenues within villages.

4.00 Policy Goals:

The “MP State Organic Farming Policy 2010” envisions three fold goals
considering cross sectoral, temporal and spatial factors across the contours of
productivity enhancement from the low production potential regions, threats of
climate change, markets and above all holistic development paradigm especially
encompassing agrarian communities in the hinterlands.
4.10 Long term:
Attaining environmental sustainability through agro – eco – systems
management strategies leading to improved soil health measured by increased
sequestered Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) stocks, reduced ground water
contaminations especially of heavy metals and anthropotoxic chemicals and
increased biomass unit area-1 through inherently conserved biodiversity;
4.20 Medium term:
Enhancing return rates unit area-1 within the existing farming systems by
rationalizing cost of production of the farm produce on one hand and increasing
cash returns by augmenting market driven processes;
4.30 Short term:

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Ensuring enabling environment by developing capable and professional human
resources and institutions necessary to both technology and market securities
especially for small holders and families on the fringes of agrarian economies,
creating suitable infrastructures, assuring quality input supplies necessary for
organic production processes, harnessing in situ biodegradable resources and
addressing ever increasing demands for energy;
5.00 Organic farming
5.10 Definition

5.10.1 A widely used definition of organic agriculture is the one provided by the
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which defines it as "…a
production system which avoids or largely excludes the use of synthetically
compounded fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators and livestock feed
additives. To the maximum extent feasible, organic farming systems rely upon
crop rotations, crop residues, animal manure, legumes, green manure, off-farm
organic wastes, mechanical cultivation, mineral bearing rocks and aspects of
biological pest control to maintain soil productivity and tilth, to supply plant
nutrients and to control insects, weeds and other pests."

5.10.2 The National Program on Organic Production (NPOP) denotes organic

agriculture as “a system of farm design and management to create an eco
system, which can achieve sustainable productivity without the use of artificial
external inputs such as chemical fertilizers and pesticides”.

5.10.3 Codex Alimentarius Commission argues that the “organic agriculture is

holistic production management system, which promotes and enhances agro –
eco system health, including biodiversity, biological cycle and soil biological
activities”.

5.10.4 The legendry proponent of organic farming Nicholas Lampkin and co –

workers proposes “the term organic is best thought of as referring not to the type
of inputs used, but to the concept of farm as an organism in which all the
components – the soil, minerals, organic matter, micro – organisms, insects,
plants, animals and human interact to create coherent self regulating and stable

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whole, reliance on external inputs, whether chemical or organic is reduced as far
as possible. Organic farming is holistic production system 5.
5.20 Scope
5.20.1 The scope of organic farming in the present purview of the MP State
Organic Farming Policy 2010 includes all field food and non food crops especially
emphasising the crops grown in the low external input regimes of fertilizers and
agro chemicals, crops and varieties of the point of origin 6, crops like hill millets
(e.g. Kodo, Kutki, Sawna, Ragi), landraces of Maize, sorghum, pearl millet, grain
pulses, oilseeds like Niger, Safflower, Castor. All fruits, vegetables grown in
homestead, fruits grown in natural habitat, cultivated under designed and
registered certified organic farms, spices and condiments, herbs of aromatics,
medicinal use and importance.
5.20.2 Major crops cultivated on the farmland under low external input regimes
like soybean, wheat, grain pulses, cotton and other fibre crops of high economic
importance, oilseeds, vegetables and fruits grown for hyper markets and or
processing would be of higher importance.
5.20.3 Forest based Food Products and Derivatives: The state’ vast expanse of
forest with huge diversity provides wide range of forest based produce. The
agencies responsible for managing forest based produce and derivatives thereof
would be encouraged to accelerate process of market orientation and shall be
given high priority to optimize the under-utilized potential 7.
5.20.4 All farm produce from plant and animal origin, inputs like manures,
composts, MSW8, liquid microbial solutions, bio fertilizers, bio insecticides,
fungicides, hormones and enzymes of plant and microbial origin allowed as per
the legal provisions of the organic standards under certified organic farming
regime required for production under organic regime shall form main body of the
scope of the new policy.
5.30 Spectrum
5.31 Organics by Default: The state has large area under serviced by the
external inputs of inorganic and chemical origin; the policy envisages promoting
5
Lampkin, Nicholas, C. Foster, S. Padel and P. Midmore, Organic Farming (1999)
6
Refer definitions for the crops and varieties of point of origin
7
Refer MP state Food Processing Policy 2007
8
MSW – Municipal Solid Waste of biodegradable nature

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those areas where such contraband inputs as per the legal provisions of the
organic standards9 are least used by the primary producers, growers and
farmers. There a number of strategies e.g. Permaculture, Natueco Farming
wherein organic and bio degradables are allowed to deposit and decompose on
the earth crust with least human interface, the seeds are allowed to grown in the
natural environ with mutually beneficial processes 10.
5.31.1 Identification of the niche areas: The organic farming in the state is in
the nascent state despite the largest area under certified organic farming in the
country. These areas remain unserviced by the agencies responsible to facilitate
systematic and scientific organic farming. Regions, districts, blocks, Gram
Panchayats having 50 – 60 % below state average in terms of external input use
i.e. fertilizers of inorganic origin, agro – chemicals should targeted as primary
niches for promoting organic farming. The state is the heart land of tribal
population in the country, most of the tribal block 11 provides excellent
opportunities as the tribal farming communities in most part of the state still
follows the principals of organic farming an d sustainable agriculture by default.
5.31.2 Institutional areas: State owned institutions like department of farmers’
welfare and agriculture development’ farms, state seed farms, KVK farms, state
horticulture farms, sericulture farms, fish farms, state agriculture university farms,
farms managed by corporate bodies, large private farms, farms managed and or
owned by civil society organizations involved in agriculture and rural
development, Gaushala farms, Kanji-house12 farms owned by public charities
and trusts shall be encouraged to convert to organically managed farms. The
large number of such institutional entities shall provide excellent opportunities for
systematic and scientific demonstrations of well managed organic farming sites
on one hand shall be the institutions for training, learning, research and
development on the various aspects of organic farming.

9
Refer list of inputs in the restricted or contraband list as per the NPOP, NOP or any other standard under
which the organic certification is applied for;
10
The live demonstration of such efforts are available within state like Malpani Trust Farm, Bajwada, the
Khategaon district Dewas, MP
11
Tribal Areas as per PESA Notification;
12
The facilities created to house the stray animals and managed by civic bodies in the urban, semi – urban
and rural areas;

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5.31.3 Notification to declare as natural organics: The state has vast expanse
of forest lands, natural grasslands, natural groves, uncontaminated farmlands in
the deep interiors of the tribal farming systems, which could be notified as natural
organics through appropriate legislative provisions 13. A similar legislation will be
passed to notify such areas in the state.
5.31.4 NTFPs, Medicinal and Aromatics: Non Timber Forest Produce (NTFPs),
plants of medicinal and aromatic value derived from natural groves and or
cultivated under certified organic farms provides unique untapped opportunity in
the state, these products enters the hyper markets for use as primary products or
derivatives after scientific value addition and processing, the local communities
mostly poor, tribal and women possess unique indigenous technical knowledge
(ITK) related to these products and commodities, the new policy envisions to
cover this vast under utilized resources and knowledge through systematic and
scientific cataloguing and following the formal certification as products of organic
and natural origin. The best example of this could be the certified organic honey
collected by tribal communities from the natural groves and forest areas.
5.31.5 Organic and Natural Dyes: The flowers (e.g. Palash)14, produced in
abundance in the natural groves and the fringe forest areas in the state, besides
the flowers, fruits, plant parts, leaves, roots, bark etc… provides opportunity to
accrue the gains from the organic farming policy. The systematic and scientific
processes necessary to qualify the organic certification regime could fetch higher
prices, meaningful engagement of the local communities collecting these material
and may enter in to hyper markets as unique products. This may form part of the
alternate livelihood for the poor and landless, create opportunities for
employment and proliferate in the rural enterprises of higher return.
5.31.6 Products of Animal Origin: The products of animal origin, milk, meat,
wool, Hyde, remain beyond contemplated list of products; such vast resources
could enter in to organized value chains and may fetch price premium for the
primary producers.

13
Refer The Mizoram Organic Farming Act 2004 Act 6 of 2004 passed by Mizoram Assembly on
21/07/2004;
14
Palash - Beauta monosperma(linn) in the natural groves and forest areas produce the flowers could be
used as feedstock for chromaculture;

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5.32 Organics by Design: The state has over a decade long history of sincere
and sustained efforts to popularize organic farming among farmers in all districts
among all contingents of the farming communities, the Department of Farmers’
Welfare and Agriculture Development started development of organic and
sustainable agriculture (DOSA) in the year 2001 – 02 15. Even before these efforts
of the state Kasturba Rural Trust started practicing organic agriculture in its 200
ha since in 196916. These efforts led to adoption of many techniques and
technology packages in those areas. The new policy envisages continuing with
such efforts with renewed vigour and systematic and strategic actions.
5.32.1 Consolidating the gains from existing certified areas: It is perceived
that state has largest registered certified organic area under various crops mostly
in better off and high potential production farming systems. The target crops vary
from cotton, chillies to soybean and wheat besides other crops. These areas
could providing a leading edge to the policy impetus and gain further momentum
in terms of popularizing formal and scientific organic farming.
5.32.2 Identifying the low external input areas: Besides the area under natural
organics by default in the hinterlands and under serviced areas in tribal regions,
forest areas, and low production potential farming systems, the policy thrust
areas where the use of purchased external inputs of inorganic and chemical
origin is lower than the state averages. These regions, villages, Gram
Panchayats, blocks and districts provide yet another opportunity to expand the
organic portfolio within the purview of the new policy.
5.32.3 Designing value chains of important organic produces: The current
policy proposes integrated value chain management, which includes primary
producers as vital integral part of the whole chain and not seen as suppliers of
the raw material to organic food and other product industry. The value chain
spectrum both at back-end and front-end must have primary producer as the key

15
The program started with financial assistance and support of use of organic inputs, developing bio –
villages, popularizing new compost techniques like NADEP, use of bio pesticides etc.. the efforts got
impetus by converting over 3130 villages as bio villages, decline in fertilizer use in these villages by 25% in
terms of purchase cost, 38% in terms of reduction in cost on pesticides, installation of >31000 bio gas
units, adopting the practices of organic certification by Gram Sabha. The state received many accolades
and developed model villages like Malgaon in Khandwa district visited by many dignitaries. Information
collected from presentations on organic farming by Director of Agriculture, MP 2004 – 05;
16
Presentation on Organic Farming by Director of Agriculture 2004 – 05;

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stakeholder. The current organized retail management initiatives through
corporate induced investments must recognize the role of primary organic
producer as equal stakeholders in the whole value chain management. The
policy encourages incorporation of the commercially viable producer owned
institutions, associations, and cooperatives to take on this responsibility and to
work shoulder to shoulder with corporate entities in the state.
5.32.4 Developing Organic hubs: The state has shown a pathway showcasing
its organically produced commodities by organizing Jaivik Haats17 , the policy
pays fresh and renewed impetus to such efforts and shall promote the initiatives
taken up by a range of stakeholders to establish Organic Hubs in and around
the organic farming areas. These hubs would be managed by Primary producers’
institutions, producers of the organic inputs, processors, marketers of the
certified organic produce, trade and industry and corporate interested in dealing
and promoting organic farming in the state. These hubs would be the nodal
points of produce aggregation, besides being “One – Stop – Shop” for a wide
and varied portfolio of organically produced stuffs.
5.33 Organics for Sustainable Agriculture: The “Four Principles of Organic
Farming18 postulated by IFOAM enshrines and encompasses the best practices
for sustainable agriculture, the state has many niches wherein the influx of
modern day diminutive technologies for short term yield gains causing serious
concern for future of the agriculture in those areas. The increasing use of
inorganic fertilizers, indiscriminate use of synthetic and obnoxious pesticides, use
of genetically modified varieties of the key crops of very high value in terms of
their economic importance and human use, unsustainable practices like burning
of crop residues, Stover after the harvesting by machines like large combine
harvesters polluting the air, killing the soil micro flora and fauna and restricting
the availability of the biodegradable material for use as animal feed and
composting are some of the glaring examples. The new policy takes cognizance
of these ill designed and prevailing practices and shall tide over the unscrupulous

17
Jaivik Haat - a special state sponsored fare wherein organic producers and other stakeholders were
encouraged to display their products, such events were started by DoAg in 2003;
18
Refer Annex Principles of Organic Farming as postulated by IFOAM; The four principles namely Principle
of Health, Principle of Ecology, Principle of Fairness and Principle of Care could ensure the sustainable
agriculture in the first place and make the living earth a better place to leave for all future generations.

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elements more systematic and scientific manner. The new policy initiatives once
grounded well within such areas through state and non – state interventions,
awareness building, capacity building and incentivising research and
development portfolio shall be precursor to GAP 19 regime.
5.34 Organics for Hyper Markets: The market for certified organically produced
commodities is witnessing exponential growth in past decade. The transnational
market providing export opportunities20 to a great extent however, the dataset
suggest a large home market for the products of organic origin. The huge
demand for safe and quality food is ever growing with the growth in the
purchasing power of the urban communities within country. This vast untapped
potential provides greater opportunities for the organic farming in the state. The
policy places high priority to this segment of the organic farming with due earnest
and shall put in all out efforts to seize the immense opportunity favouring millions
of small and marginal primary producers and organic farmers.
5.35 Organics for Carbon Market:
5.35.1 To mitigate the crisis in agriculture is to increase soil organic matter
(SOM). The living soils function through a mixture of substances that originate
from decomposition of plants and animal material. In common language, this
called Farm yard Manure used for millennia in Indian and Chinese agricultural
systems. They have capacity to absorb 100 times more water and nutrient to be
released to the plants later. The accumulation of Organic Matter (OM) in the soil
is the key factor in lowering the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere21.
5.35.2 Modern organic techniques have the potential to maintain and even
increase yields over the long term while improving soil fertility, biodiversity and
other ecosystem services that underpin agriculture. Crop rotations in organic
farming provide more habitats for biodiversity due to the resulting diversity of
housing, breeding and nutritional supply. As synthetic agro-chemicals are

19
GAP – Good Agriculture Practices - The GOI has entered in to developing India specific GAP under the
aegis of Bureau of Indian Standards postulating crop wise region wise good agriculture practices and
developing enabling mechanisms to make these statutory conditions for trans – national trade of
agriculture commodities;
20
Refer APEDA report 2006 – 07 showing a total production of organic commodities 585970 MT, total
quantity exported 19456 MT, value of total export RS 3012.4 million, total area under certified organic
production 339113 ha with total number of organic farmers 141904 across country.
21
Climate debate cannot ignore small farmers – Pandurang Hedge LEISA INDIA, June, 2009,

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prohibited in organic agriculture, its adoption can help prevent the recurrence of
the estimated 3 million cases of acute severe pesticide poisoning and 300,000
deaths that result from agrochemical use in conventional agriculture every year.
Organic systems have 57% lower nitrate leaching rates compared with other
farming systems, and zero risk of surface water contamination. In terms of
benefits for climate change, various studies have shown that organic farming
uses 20-to-56% less energy per produced unit of crop dry matter than
conventional agriculture, and that organic fields sequester three-to-eight more
tons of carbon per hectare22.
5.35.3 The new policy envisions to tap this vast potential for carbon sink may
provide opportunities to sequester 0.3 – 0.6 t C ha -1 Y-1 and may develop a
framework for converting this in to CERs23.
5.36 Organics for Processing Industry: The organic food, feed and processed
and or packaged products needs special mention and this policy considering
huge potential in the state would encourage primary producers, processors and
marketers to seize this opportunity24.
6.00 Statutory Obligations
6.10 Organic Certification: “Certification is the procedure by which officially
recognized certification bodies, provide written or equivalent assurance that
foods or food control systems conform to requirements of organic operation” 25.
Consumers want assurance that products labelled “organic” are indeed produced
according to organic production methods, and producers want to know that other
producers also claiming to produce organic products are competing fairly. The
“organicness”26 of a product cannot be established by looking at the harvested
product or by testing it. Rather, it is ascertained through documentation and
inspection of the whole production process. Organic certification systems were
developed in the early 1970s and by 2000 GOI took serious steps to formalize
organic farming in the Country. The Ministry of Commerce launched the National
Organic Programme in April 2000 and Agricultural and Processed Food Products

22
Best Practices for Organic Policies CBFT, UNEP – UNCTAD 2008
23
CER – Certified Emission Reduction is measure of sequestered carbon variable in the long term;
24
Refer MP State Food Processing Policy 2007
25
Shree Sandeep Bhargav, CEO, Oncecert Asia - Growers Group Certification
26
Modern Concepts of Agriculture – Organic Agriculture – Dr. Rajendra Prasad, IARI, 2007

- 22 -
Exports (APEDA) is implementing the National Programme of Organic
Production (NPOP) (Gouri, 2004). Under the NPOP, documents like National
Standards, accreditation criteria for accrediting inspection and certification
agencies27, have been prepared and approved by the National Steering
Committee.
6.11 State Level Agency: The new organic policy lays fresh impetus to develop
and make fully functional a state level organic certification agency 28 with state –
of art facilities and expertise in – house to meet the current and future challenges
and statutory obligations of national and international nature. The current
challenges of identifying and deploying trained and professional human
resources would the ardent task and shall be accomplished with due diligence as
top priority area in the ambit of new policy guidelines.

6.12 Grower Group Certification (GGC): Grower Group Certification is the

internal quality system and shall apply to small holding farmer groups, farmer’s
cooperatives, contract production and small scale processing unit. Certification of
a group of producers who share common elements are organized under one
management and marketing system. Grower group certifications have been used
for crops and groups of producers located in a geographical or social region,
whose crops are marketed collectively. Grower groups must establish and
implement their own system of Internal Control, supervision and documentation
of production practices, as well as other important aspects of each member’s
operation, to insure compliance with organic certification standards. Growers’
groups must utilize centralize processing, distribution and marketing facilities and
systems. The new policy domain would encourage the GGC on a wider scale to
rationalize the cost of certification, yet maintain the quality standards (NPOP,
NOP, EU, JAS any other) with due diligence, care and caution.
6.12.1 Internal Control Systems: An Internal Control System (ICS) is a
documented quality assurance system that allows the external certification body
to delegate the annual inspection of individual group members to an identified

27
The Minister of Agriculture, GoMP has reiterated the issue and raised to constitute an Organic Authority
under the aegis of MoAg, GOI refer letter # 4867 dated Jan 08, 2010;
28
The MP State Organic Certification Agency has been incorporated in 2008 and under the early stage of
development;

- 23 -
body/unit within the certified operator. ICS operators work as binding force
among farmers, and allow developing and using single window for buying,
trading and training. The new policy domain cease the opportunity to broad base
the GGC (refer para 6.12anbove) and encourage a wide range of institutions like
specially “designated accredited and certified organic agri-clinics operators”,
CBOs, CSOs, NGOs, Commodity Associations, FPC, Cooperatives, SHGs and
federations thereof, KVKs, zonal and regional agriculture and horticulture
research stations to develop their competencies and assume the responsibilities
of providing high quality services as ICS Managers.
6.12.2 Chartered quality assurance managers, inspectors, ICS Auditors,
Operators: A large scale organic operation both under default and designed
regions with full utilization of the wide spectrum of opportunities would require the
high quality and competent services for quality assurance system in compliance
to the statutory and legal requirements binding to declare and denote organic
produce. The policy put highest emphasis to develop such competencies among
the rural youth, graduates and post graduates in agriculture and allied sciences
to attain such levels of accredited and certified competencies to provide such
services on full economic cost price to all who demands such services. The new
policy promulgates the philosophy of paid extension services to dawn a new era
in the agriculture extension and technology management through such bold yet
timely initiatives. This would help generate local employment for the rural literate
youth and encourage them to take up systematic and scientific quality
professional education to register themselves as independent or corporatized
ICS operators in the hinterlands.

6.13 Participatory Guarantee System (PGS): The PGS is an internationally

applicable organic quality assurance system [like ISO 9000] implemented and
controlled by the committed organic farmer-producers through active
participation, along with the consumers, in the process based on verifiable trust.
The farmer pledges that the production process is free from manufactured
chemicals [fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides, hormones, etc] and lives by his
word of honor. The “Local Group” of five or more organic farmers is the fulcrum
of the self-regulatory support system of PGS. The quality assurance standards

- 24 -
are harmonized by the PGS Organic India Council, which permits the use of its
PGS label on a product as a mark of quality. The International Federation of
Organic Agriculture Movements or IFOAM defines PGS thus: “Participatory
Guarantee Systems are locally focused quality assurance systems. They certify
producers based on active participation of stakeholders and are built on a
foundation of trust, social networks and knowledge exchange.”

6.14 A precursor of PGS is already being tried to practice in MP initiated during

the year 2002 by constituting a village level standing committee and empowering
it to certify the primary producers’ claim of being truly organic in terms of use of
inputs and process

6.15 Level of Equivalency with National and International Standards: The

issue of level of equivalency is well thought and emphatically dealt by APEDA as
one of the key national accreditation agency, the new policy would work in
tandem with APEDA’ quality assurance system and encourage all the
stakeholders within the fold of organic farming in the state to strengthen the state
level agency on par with national and international agencies.
6.16 Stand on GM: The new policy shall take firm stand against GM 29 and shall
make adequate mechanisms to check unscrupulous elements to push GMOs in
the certified / notified organic areas.
6.17 The state commits itself for a “GM free status of its agriculture”, this requires
strong resolve on the part of statutory agencies engaged in enforcement of
agriculture legislations on one hand, input agencies and farmers on the other
hand. The state shall reprimand actors and elements promoting GM seeds and
gradually attain a GM Free environment.
7.00 Organic Inputs: The organic inputs of appropriate quality with assured
supply and rationalized price plays crucial role in accelerating the growth rate of
organic farming. The new policy pays top most priority to this aspect of organic
farming and shall abide to the obligation of making organic input portfolio a real
time growth engine of organic farming. The key inputs 30 in the organic farming

29
GM – Genetically modified organisms are any way contraband under certified organic regime
30
The State reiterates it s commitment to rationalize the cost of production under organic regime and
shall encourage the farmers to produce inputs like soil and plant nutrition supplements (manures and

- 25 -
are soil and plant nutrition supplements, pest control agents 31, seeds and
varieties of the crops and technologies that work in harmony with principles of
organic farming. The earlier three are input based technologies and can be
delivered to the practioners of organic farming, the later one fall in the category of
knowledge based technology, which by virtue requires more participatory
strategy. The quality control, quality assurance, packaging, pricing and delivery
mechanism are some of the key issues that requires state interventions through
quasi – legal and statutory provisions. The current legal provisions do not suffice
the purpose hence the new policy shall postulate a new set of guidelines and
control orders for the organic inputs.
7.10 Connecting Bio – Energy and Organic Inputs: The availability of
unabated supply of power / energy remains elusive in the remote rural areas,
however, alternate or non conventional sources of energies like solar and
biomass could play a critical role in achieving energy security in the rural areas.
The bio energy especially bio – gas and gober gas produces energies as well as
high quality manures. The new policy shall pay utmost attention to develop the
bio – gas / gobar gas interventions with the twin objective of producing domestic
fuel, captive power and enriched organic manure. There are adequate
mechanisms and technologies that can be deployed to achieve the twin
objectives simultaneously making the initiative a profitable and environment
friendly venture.
7.11 Bio gas producers’ companies in the hinterlands: To make the bio –
energy – organic input production a commercially viable and sustainable stand
alone initiative, the new policy would encourage the rural youth, primary organic
producers, CBOs, CSO, private and corporate to develop bio energy producers,
suitable mechanisms would be developed to support incorporation, handholding
and technology backstopping to nurture these budding institutions. These

Composts of all types), pest control agents, seeds, varieties and other technologies. The farmers would be
encouraged to develop their local germplasm, varieties, seeds and continue using strategies like
developing gene banks, seed banks;
31
The state sees the opportunity of re - designating the place of Neem Tree (Azerdiricta indica linn) as
Kalpavirksha – the celestial tree that blesses the grower with its divine qualities. Neem plays a similar role
in organic farming, the Vedic scripture e.g. Surpalas - Vrukshayurveda deliberates on some such species
like Giripushpa, Neem etc…

- 26 -
producers once grounded firmly in their areas of operation shall provide
meaningful employment to the rural youth on sustained basis.
7.12 Urban bio – degradable waste management – tapping the commercial
opportunities under PPCP mode: The urban areas in the state produces huge
amount of solid and liquid waste, the civic bodies struggle to manage such waste
in environmentally benign manner. In the recent past some of the civic bodies
have come up with the plans to manage such waste in PPP mode. The new
policy shall work in tandem with civic bodies and extend the PPP mode in to
PPCP32. MSW, night soil compost, partnership with institutions like Sulabh
International33 shall be of great importance to use their expertise, technologies
and institutional support for the benefit of organic farming. The peri – urban
agriculture a neglected field in the farm sectors holds high promise and shall be
yet another appropriate niche to strengthen organic farming around urban
conglomerates. The urban dairy hubs, fruit and flower cultivation farms shall be
developed wherein urban population may work on the principle of “own a cow
for fresh milk” philosophy. The peri – urban agriculture provides easy access to
markets for the organically produced perishables and products of animal origin.
The new policy shall strategies to cease these opportunities upfront as priority
area. Similarly peri – urban agriculture at times plays havoc 34 as the external
input use especially inorganic fertilizers, pesticides is much higher and
indiscriminate, the new policy taking cognizance shall notify such areas for pure
organic farming areas.
7.13 Developing framework and augmenting opportunities for carbon
trading: The issue of generating CERs through organic farming has been a
fascinating opportunity for the farm sector, however, appropriate R & D in this
field and adequate framework to measure the carbon sink is conspicuously
absent. The new policy would encourage R & D institutions to develop a

32
PPCP – Public – Private – Community Partnership Mode shall provide an opportunity to the rural
communities to work for the urban areas and charge for the environmental services, besides making the
meaningful use of bio waste generated by the urban societies.
33
A not for profit organization working in the urban areas providing community toilet facilities in many
urban and semi – urban areas;
34
Contamination of surface water with heavy metals, POPs and other anthropotoxic elements - as in the
case of Bada Talab of Bhopal, wherein the affluent and heavy metals from the catchment pollutes the
lake and destroys aquatic life;

- 27 -
framework to monitor and measure carbon sink. The most appropriate
opportunity could be bio energy and use of organic manures that hasten the
process of restricting GHG sources and expands the sink within the system. The
future CER would generate a carbon fund to continue with financing the sector
even without state aid and shall be a viable option for earning higher returns from
the hitherto low paying activity.
7.20 Towards Cow Based Rural Economy:

“Madhvee gavo bhuvantu nah”35

Cows in the farming system play the role of mother since Vedic times, the Vedas
36
define cow as Kamadhenu , organic farming ever since its inception depends
hugely on the cows for proving the inputs that supports organic farming.
Panchgyva37 has been used since Vedic times as magic input to produce more
sustainably, similarly Amrut Pani38 have been used since ancient time as soil
enhancer. The new policy sees the bovine wealth as a boon to herald a
breakthrough in the rural economy. The new policy would tread the path to
establish and strengthen Cow Based Rural Economy in the state with its 20 39 m
bovine population. The policy takes a non religious, non political and strictly
economic view point to achieve sustainable development of rural economy. The
policy enshrines with the encouragement 40 of bovines emphasising research and
development efforts41 to break the barriers and produce such technologies
enhancing quality cows rearing and hence shall put in place such schemes that
incentivise the small holder to increase their herds. Fodder development has
35
“Let our cattle (cows) provide prosperity to us” – Rigveda 1.90
36
The Celestial Cow that blesses and grants prosperity to worshiper;
37
Five products of cow origin namely milk, whey, butter oil, dung and urine all put to gather makes
Panchgyva and has been used in communion as magic input to enhance soil and crop productivity and
pest control agent;
38
Amrut pani is prepared by mixing 10 kg cow dung, 250 gm ghee and 500 gm honey. The resultant
mixture is stirred, allowed to ferment and diluted in 200 litres of water. It is used, after proper stirring, for
seed dressing and seedling treatment. When sprayed on fields and plants, it enriches the soil and improves
fertility (Deshpande, 2003).
39
As per the Cattle Census of 2004;
40
The Minister of Farmers’ Welfare and Agriculture Development, GoMP has already requested GOI (refer
letter # 4866 dated Jan 08, 2010) to support establishment of a Bovine Research Institute under the aegis
of ICAR and state shall provide all the possible support to such initiative. The issue was raised by the
Minister of Agriculture during the 81 Annual General Meeting of ICAR;
41
Institutions like Deen Dayal Reseach Institue (DRI), Chitrakoot district Satna already persuing research
on indegineous cow breeds would be supported and strengthen to continue with their efforts.

- 28 -
always been an elusive factor limiting the scope of animal husbandry especially
for small holders; the department of veterinary will be directed to develop such
schemes42.
7.21Dry Dairies: A large number of non – descript bovine population remain
unproductive and under utilized resource left to lurch around in the urban, semi –
urban and rural areas. Poor feeding and breeding management makes this
population a burden on the agro – eco system. The concept of dry dairies will
ensure a systematic and scientific feeding and breeding management especially
when the animal is in dry period. The dry dairies would keep such animals during
the dry period and see that they produce pedigree generations with selection for
breed purification, breed improvement using the indigenous germplasm, on
calving the animal would be return to the owner in the milch, appropriate
operational modalities would be worked out to implement such schemes on mass
scale. These dairies provide the opportunities to produce bio energy, manures
and other such products that add to the organic input telly. A large number of
landless farmers, women, rural youth and agriculture labours or small herders
would be the target population providing them opportunities for meaningful
employment and sustainable livelihood.
7.22 Gobar gas (Kamdhenu Natural Gas KNG) – purging, bottling, domestic
fuel: Research have shown that Gobar gas can be purified for the impurities like
H2S, excessive water vapours and other such contents impeding its bottling for
easy transportation and use as and when required. The bio – energy / Gobar gas
Producing Companies would be encouraged to harness the potential of such
technology advancement and produce KNG for domestic and auto fuel. This will
help them generate yet another account of CERs by saving fossil based
hydrocarbons.
7.23 Power Generation – decentralized captive power generation: Besides
the dry dairies producing enriched manures, they would be encouraged to
produce power by setting of appropriate size captive power plants using gobar –
gas as feedstock.

42
There are examples wherein schemes provides subsidies for purchase of pedigree bulls or purchase of
farm machines, however no schemes are in vogue to encourage the smallholder to purchase cows and
bullocks;

- 29 -
7.24 Managing Cold Chains: Developing and managing cold chains in the
remote rural areas have been a challenge restricted by power supply greatly
hindering the chances of producing and marketing perishables. The captive
power generation capacities harnessed through the use of gobar – gas / bio –
gas would be primarily utilized for developing and managing small cold storages
and cold chains to augment the opportunities of organic farming of perishables.
7.25 Enriched Manures with quality assurance, standards: The enriched
manures with certified quality assurance system with adequate quality standards
would be the key business venture and shall put the cow based rural economy
on firm footing.
7.26 Employment opportunities and rural entrepreneurship: The rural youth
would be the key target for engaging them in to meaningful rural enterprises. The
RBH43 scheme would provide the right platform for this to take shape.
7.30 Organic Input Enterprises and Rural Youth: Organic input enterprises
within the ambit of RBH or similar such schemes would further provide the
opportunities to rural youth and educated youth interested to develop organic
input production and marketing enterprises.
7.40 Quality Control Facilities for Inputs: The QC remains an elusive factor
making room for unscrupulous elements cheating the poor farmers on many
counts. The new policy commits to put in place such statutory enforcement
mechanisms and appropriate legal framework to cover all organic inputs within its
fold44.
8.00 Converting Certified Organic Farm Commodities into High Value
Brands;
8.10 A unique state level umbrella brand would be developed for the organic
products justifying and qualifying the statutory standards under certified regimes
under GGC, PGS and other systems of organic certification. The farm
commodities when converted to high value brands fetches higher market

43
Rural Business Hubs – a scheme of GOI under the MOPR and CII would be an appropriate platform for
this to take shape;
44
Refer para 7.00 of the new policy

- 30 -
premiums. Farmers have been genius to develop such unique selling points
(USPs)45.
8.20 The conversion process from commodities to brands requires standardized
production processes, bulk aggregations, and managing fair average qualities of
the produce, following certification, traceability, collective marketing etc…..these
operations are part of organic farming due to the four cardinal principles of
organic farming46. The organic farming as envisioned in this policy document
shall accelerate the process of brand building with appropriate logo like “India
Organic47” “PGS Organic48”.
9.00 State Organic Mission:
9.10 The new policy would be implemented in a mission mode, for this to take
deep roots in shortest possible time a state mission on organic farming
(appropriately names? May be ……………………Mission on Organic Farming)
would be instituted immediately. Such mission would be chaired by Minister of
Agriculture under the patronage of Chief Minister of the state. The mission would
be headed by a full time professional with requisite expertise and experience as
Mission Director drawn from within the government system or outside.
9.20 The mission would be the implementing agency within the Ministry of
Agriculture with a full team of professionals on all aspects of organic farming. The
mission would work in all districts in the identified niches and shall develop full
scale operational facilities at district, block and cluster level 49.
9.30 The state organic mission would create an enabling environment within the
new policy domain and shall encourage the organic producers by holding state
level competitions, institute awards50, the mission would also organize annual

45
Chinnor rice , Sehore Wheat, Pigeonpea Dal from Narsinghpur, Papaya from Badwani are some of the
bright examples of the brand building process in the field of farm commodities;
46
Refer IFOAM Principles cited elsewhere in the policy document;
47
See Logo in the Annexure section;
48
See log in the Annexure section;
49
A separate strategy note detailing the State Organic Mission would be developed in consultation with
experts from with the government and outside
50
The State honors like “Rajya Jaivik Shree” under various categories like for primary organic
producers, scientists, development professionals, trade and industry partners, State Officials and Public
Workers, the Award Investiture Function would be organized and or coincides with “Balram Jayanthi”
every year, the state would also declare the model Jaivik Gram as “Jaivik Tirtha” and shall use these
villages for the exposure trainings and demonstrations sites;

- 31 -
events like regional, state, national, international growers conferences, seminars,
symposiums, workshops for all the stakeholders engaged in organic farming.
10.00 Developing Organic Producers’ Institutions
10.10 Building Linkages: The new policy attempts to emancipate primary
producers from the clutches of unproductive and unfriendly channels of markets
and encourages setting up such institutions that provide end – to – end solutions
for backward and forward linkages, knowledge and financial linkages to meet the
challenge.
10.11 Backward Linkages with Primary Organic Producers: The policy,
taking cognizance of the recent developments in the field of retail management
and increased interest of organized sector and corporate giants and implication
thereof on the small and marginal primary producers of the organically produced
commodities and those involved in the unorganized retail especially of NTFPs,
MFPs, herbs, medicinal and aromatics and other products from the natural or
default organics, emphasize the urgent and immediate need for setting up
institutions and processes that are inclusive in nature. It is worth recognizing that
the organic food and other products are produced by small and marginal farmers
and at the other end of the chain are consumed by rich people who can afford to
pay higher prices for such products, however, the benefits are not accrued by the
primary producers. The certification to qualify for organic standards, collection,
aggregation, bulking, sorting, grading, packing and other operations necessary to
place these products in the hyper markets requires specialized operations, hence
new policy pays due emphasis to build such “organic producers’ collectives”
to establish and strengthen back – end operations of the organic value chain.
10.12 Forward Linkages with Local, Regional, National and International
Markets: A whole range of front – end operations are required for appropriate
placement of organic produce in the hyper markets, moreover, the GGC and
PGS requires collective marketing under an umbrella brand, the organic
producers’ collectives engaged in back – end operations would be the right
choice of institutions to work in partnership with hyper markets and enter the
value chain to the utmost benefits of the primary producers. Fair trade practices,
bulk supplies, speciality products and intermediaries and derivatives require

- 32 -
scientific operations to augment and optimize benefits. MP State Agriculture
marketing Board would be directed51 to provide separate market shades for the
organic produce to avoid any chances of commingling with non – organic
produce. The Mandi would also be directed to notify such arrangements to attract
the buyers from all across nation to enter in the Mandi for organic produce. The
arrangement shall then develop market niches within state.
10.13 Linkages for Technology Management: Organic farming is as much a
technologic centric issue, the quality of product depends on the quality of inputs,
appropriate processes within the ambit of the statutory standards and
management of the operations to avoid contamination and commingling with non
– organic produce. The new policy understands the technology needs of the
systematic and scientific organic farming and imbibes the spirit of building
linkages between primary producers and R & D institutions.
10.14 Financial Linkages: The large scale operations would require fresh
investments both public and private, the financial linkages between the
institutions of primary organic producers and the financial institutions like CCB,
nationalized banks, RRBs, MFIs, NABARD and host of other institutions would
be encouraged to enter in to financial agreements with primary organic producers
institution to kick start the process.
11.00 State Level Organic Farming Research and Development Institute:
11.10 Developing local, regional and state level facilities to impart short-
term courses: Based on CBNA using 3600 feedback loop local, regional and
state level facilities would be created to take on the task of imparting skill-building
trainings through short courses. The Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs) and the
Farmers’ Training Centres of Department would be encouraged to start Organic
Farming Development Programs (ODPs) for rural youth to take up organic
farming as key economic activity for their future vocation. A dedicated and
specialized institute under the aegis of “……………………………………….
Institute of Organic Farming Research and Development” with technical and

51
Such demands have been raised by organic growers from time to time in the state, the separate
arrangements would encourage all such farmers to continue their efforts and reap the appropriate prices
with the Mandi premises

- 33 -
infrastructural facility within state offering such services would be established as
a key initiative under the new policy domain.
11.20 Capacity Building Need Assessment: The new policy shall give utmost
priority to capacity building need assessment at all levels of all stakeholders to
understand current status of skill sets possessed by the key personnel. A gap
analysis would help estimate the capacity building needs and to develop a
trained cadre of food processing experts and personnel.
11.30 Handholding Support: The vocational training institutes or R & D
establishment associated with Organic Farming would be encouraged to extend
handholding support to the new initiatives during the early phase of the projects.
Besides, a special Organic Farming Mission would enable the new policy to hire
specialist Advisors and Consultants on task basis to provide such support from
time-to-time.
11.40 On-line end-to-end solutions: Information technology enabled services
(ITES) like e2b52 and b2b53 portals would be established dovetailing with “Vision
2007 every village a knowledge centre” of Government of India. The on-line
end-to-end solution on “e-sanchar” through wireless telephony would accelerate
the pace of converting hitherto weakness and threats in to opportunities and
strengths as depicted in the Policy Vision in the state. The new policy would
harness the hidden potential of front age information technology (IT) and advise
State Organic Mission to develop a dedicated website 54, in fact this would be a
statutory requirement for the state level CB to develop and manage on – line
database of all the organic growers in different categories and shall be available
in public domain.
11.50 Developing state – of – art and futuristic facilities for higher learning,
research and development in the field of organic farming:
11.50.1 To safeguard the future and make further advancement in the organic
farming portfolio, constant research and development would be utmost important.
Academic and professional institutions would be advised to start fresh higher
education courses in the field of Organic Farming and its allied activities. The

52
e 2 b - Electronic to business
53
b 2 b – Business to business
54
Possible website could be www.mpjaivik.org

- 34 -
new policy would envisage a dedicated institution of higher learning in the name
of ………………………National University of Organic Agriculture to establish
at an appropriate place where the heritage of organic farming and active interest
of scientific academia and professionals deemed enticing.
11.50.2 The new policy would encourage the school education to include Organic
farming as new stream of Knowledge in the curricula. The board of secondary
education may then start separate stream on Organic Agriculture in their syllabi.
12.00 Convergence to Optimize the Efforts:
12.10 The new policy envisages public – private – community partnership to
establish and strengthen the organic farming as the harbinger of new orbits of
growth in the farm economy. The Ministry of Agriculture in the state will
coordinate all efforts to dovetail programs, projects, schemes from within the
state with all relevant departments like RD and PR, horticulture and food
processing, animal husbandry and veterinary, forest, urban development etc….
12.20 The State Organic Mission (to be names appropriately) would publish the
details of all the schemes programs and initiatives encouraging organic
agriculture by Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. Besides programs
and schemes steered by NPOP, especial projects like Rashtriya Krishi Vikas
Yojna (RKVY), programs launched and steered by National Rainfed Area
Authority, donor funded initiatives etc…. would also provide the required
resources to meet the targeted estimates.
12.30 Looking to the potential for job creation in situ and prospects of the
proliferation of organic input, service, technology back stopping, certification,
quality testing and assurance system at both ends of production processes,
processing industry for organically produced commodities, collective marketing,
and all other aspects of organic farming, special efforts would be made to bring in
fresh investments from both private / corporate sources from within state, country
and abroad.
12.40 Formation of Joint Liability Groups is an ideal credit delivery channel,
which takes care of the problem of collateral. NABARD pilot project may be
extended to organic cultivation intensive areas. Capacity building of bankers in
the realm of organic farming may be required. To begin with it may be started in

- 35 -
intensively cultivated areas. This may lead to credibility to the organic farming
system, and encourage banks to take up a few pilot projects on their own 55.
12.50 The Department of Farmers’ Welfare and Agriculture Development shall
continue with renewed vigour and budgetary outlays under its program of
Development of Organic and Sustainable Agriculture (DOSA) and shall expand
many activities identified and found necessary under the obligatory fulfilment of
the state commitment under the new policy domain.
13.00 Incentives:
13.10 Incentivising Stakeholders: All incentives as declared by the state
government under the provisions of incentives to the stakeholder under the MP
State Food Processing Policy – 2008 shall be extended to the primary producers,
processors, marketers, R & D agencies and others engaged in Organic Farming
in the state. These provisions would be dovetailed with new MP State Organic
Farming Policy 2010 for the purpose of avoiding duplication on one hand and
encouraging organic farming in the state on the other hand. The new policy
delves on instituting a “State Organic Farming Fund” to be managed by state
organic mission. The fund could garner support from the Mandi Board cess
regime56, carbon credits earned through various interventions and other such
untied funds that may be utilized for popularization of organic farming in the
state.
13.20 MP State Agriculture Marketing Board Tax moratorium for producers
and intermediaries promoting organic farming: In line with such exemptions
extended to producers and others engaged in production processes of
perishables57 shall be extended to producers of certified organic produce.
13.30 Nutrient Value Based and / or Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) based
compensation for production, promotion and use of organic manures, soil
additives: The new policy is inclined to induce the soil heath parameters to the

55
Credit issues for organic farmers - NABARD Consultancy Services (NABCONS), Report prepared within
the framework of the Technical Cooperation Project on Organic Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of
India and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (TCP/IND/3003)
56
The MP State Agriculture Marketing Board cess contributes a portion to rural road funds, allocates
resources for infrastructure development and for conservation and development of bovines in the state to
MP Rajya Gausamvardhan Board.
57
Refer Food Processing Policy 2008 for provisions applicable to production, processing, marketing of
perishables

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crop nutrient subsidy regime. Organic carbon plays major role in biological
activity and fertility of the soil. Indian soil ecosystems are very dynamic due to its
sub-tropical climate, resulting rapid degradation of organic matter in these soils.
Soil organic carbon content up to 1.5 - 2.0 % increases soil porosity that supports
growth of the soil micro – organisms. This increases availability of different
nutrients to the plant, resulting in better crop yield. Thus organic carbon is a true
indicator of the soil health. Also it is true that soils with sufficient organic carbon
in it definitely contains other major elements like Nitrogen, Phosphorous and
Potassium in more available form. Despite complications to measure the SOC,
policy believes that there are sufficient technological advancements that may
help measure the SOC with ease and efficiency 58. The state may decide a
subsidy regime59 on production and use of organic manures based on such
empirical measures.
13.40 Compensation for Certification Fee: The new policy shall compensate
registered organic producers by subsidizing 25 – 75% of the certification fee
under GGC and PGS for initial 5 years. The state may them claim all such
subsides from Ministry of Agriculture, GOI under appropriate scheme or
program60.
13.50 Technology Support Subsidy: Technologies for production, processing,
storage, documentation, testing, traceability, impact assessment of the organic
farming on overall agro – ecology would require state funds, special projects
would be encouraged with state grants. The primary producers would be given
technology support under appropriate programs or special organic area
development program. The funds for such initiatives would be dovetailed from
RKVY, NRAA, National Mission on sustainable Agriculture and state sponsored
schemes from within the departmental funds.
13.60 Transport Subsidy: The organic produce comes from hinterlands and far-
flung remote areas, the perishable nature and shorter shelf life, issues of

58
Soil Organic Carbon Detection Kit (SOCDK) developed at BARC, ideally a quick, accurate and field test
will be able to guide the farmer for this purpose.
59
The State may have to set up a special task force of experts in this stream of science, agriculture
economists and fertilizer pricing experts to delve on the subject and provide recommendations in a time
bound fashion. The state then may decide on ways and means for administering such pragmatic subsidy
regime.
60
Efforts may be made to approach GOI funds from Mission on Sustainable Agriculture;

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contamination and commingling, shortage of adequate and appropriate storage
are some the bottlenecks in developing the organic farming as remunerative
initiatives. To deal with such issues the new policy opined that an appropriate
transport subsidy may be offered to primary producers or groups, institutions and
individuals facilitating remunerative marketing thereof. Such subsidies may be as
applicable in case of State’ Food Processing Policy 2008. The long haul subsides
may be garnered from NPOP and or APEDA as the case may be under export
promotion schemes of GOI.
13.70 Subsides as applicable in case of bio gas and gobar gas: The non
conventional energy department / corporation, MP state Agro Industries
Corporation, KVIC, National Board on Biogas extends subsidies for development
of bio / gobar gas. Such subsidies and program implementation shall be
dovetailed with organic farming under the new policy regime. Efforts would be
made to develop a strong bio / gobar gas based power generation portfolio with
twin objectives of producing captive energy at local level and produce high
quality enriched certified organic manure. The energy generation may accrue
and earn carbon credits and convert them in to carbon funds for future financing
of the program giving impetus to organic farming in the state. The new policy
enunciates its firm commitment to develop model dairy farms, dry dairy farms,
Gaushalas and small scale demonstrable models for small and marginal farmers
in any socio – economic category with appropriate state aid and or centrally
sponsored schemes applicable to this intervention.
13.80 Fee charges for capacity building: Adequate funds are available with
NCOF for training and capacity building of the stakeholder under the NPOP and
other programs, the primary organic producers and their institutions, ICS
institutions, PGS institutions and groups, CBs, VOs, FPS, CSOs, R & D
establishments shall be given adequate trainings with state funds dovetailed from
various sources. The CB funds would be allocated from the ATMA funds and
agencies managing ATMA in various blocks and districts under PPP mode shall
be advised to give priority to such initiatives.
13.90 Technical consultancy charges and fee: Special fund would be created
under RKVY to give impetus to organic farming in the state, any agency aspiring

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to higher technical consultancies for the purpose of developing / formulating
projects on one or many aspects of organic farming would be given state support
to accelerate the process of project development and project cycle management
with adequate and appropriate technical inputs.
13.91 Sponsorships for higher learning in the field of organic farming to
rural youth: Literate and educated rural youth would be the critical mass to be
quickly bring on the board to accelerate the pace of policy implementation,
generate meaningful livelihood and employment opportunities, developing a
cadre of independent trained and professional service providers to the millions of
organic producers. The policy enshrines with the spirit of developing the future of
the state by sponsoring rural youth to the institutions of higher learning for
graduating in the different fields of organic farming. The certificate, diploma,
bachelor and masters’ courses would be started with these sponsored students.
The policy would support such institutions providing opportunities for higher
learning in the filed of organic farming.
14.00 Consumer Awareness:
14.10 The new policy consolidating the principles of health and principle of care 61
shall abide to the public health and create an environment of trust and care for
the ultimate consumers. The policy would lay emphasis on consumer awareness
about the organic products and encourage consumers to use more and more
organics. This in effect would be a marketing strategy for the organic products as
well.
14.20 A rational media mix would be devised and state and national electronic
and print media would be encouraged to undertake the issue of organic farming
and its impacts on food basket and environment conducive to human habitat.

61
Refer four principles of organic farming as postulated by IFOAM

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