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M.R. Subramani

Nigerseed is grown in about five lakh hectares in M.P. with production around 2.5 lakh tonnes. At least 75 per cent of this is exported to European countries.

Indore , Nov. 12

THE Madhya Pradesh Government has begun the process of talks with agencies certifying organic products to specifically promote exports of nigerseed.

"We have called the agencies that certify organic products, including a Swiss firm, for negotiations. The State Government will pay for the certification process," Dr G.S. Kaushal, Director, Agriculture, Madhya Pradesh Government, told Business Line.

Nigerseed is grown in the tribal areas and it has now found commercial uses. Tribals have been growing nigerseed through generations without using any pesticide or insecticide.

For any product to be certified as an organic one, it should be grown without applying any fertiliser, pesticide or insecticide. Organic manure such as cow dung, however, is permitted to be used. The certifying agencies carry out various tests to find out if the products contain insecticide, pesticide residues before giving certification.

The Centre, on its part, has approved quite a few organisations, including the Spices Board, for certifying organic products.

Nigerseed has now been found useful for oil and cake.

In Europe, nigerseed is used as feed for birds. "For ages, nigerseed has been grown organically, which was perceived as our weakness. But now, we are turning it into our strength," Dr Kaushal said.

Nigerseed is grown in about five lakh hectares in Madhya Pradesh with production around 2.5 lakh tonnes. At least 75 per cent of this is exported to European countries.

Madhya Pradesh, whose fertiliser consumption is 48 kg per hectare — 50 per cent of the country's average — has begun to promote organic cultivation in a big way. "Organic cultivation is spreading like a wildfire. Farmers in nearly one lakh hectare have adopted organic farming in the State," Dr Kaushal said.

Nigerseed currently fetches Rs 50-75 a kg. Once the products get organic certification, Dr Kaushal expects at least 20 per cent rise in the prices.

"Farmers in Khandwa districts have successfully grown organic cotton too," he said. Cotton, being prone to attack by pests, requires constant pesticide spraying. "About 20,000 farmers in Khargone have successfully used neem as insecticide in cotton. "This has led to substantial savings," he claimed.

"We will transfer the technology of organic farming successfully to other farmers without any outside help," he said.

The talks with the certifying agencies will start on Wednesday and is expected to continue till the weekend. The agencies will visit the villages where organic farming is on and will come up with their offer after that.

"We are trying to speed up the entire process," Dr Kaushal said.

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