The Hindu Business Line : Govts urged to provide subsidy to promote organic farming

THE International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) on Thursday reiterated that governments should stop providing export subsidies for conventional agriculture and instead allocate them to promote organic farming.

Addressing at a press conference on the eve of India Organic 2005, a four-day organic agribusiness meet to be held in Bangalore from Friday, Mr Gerald A. Herrmann, President, IFOAM, said governments should stop giving agriculture subsidies.

"If at all subsidies are provided they should be given to promote organic farming as subsidies given out for conventional agriculture, which is expensive as it relies heavily on fertilisers and pesticides, ultimately end up with big corporates benefiting and farmers do not stand to benefit," he said.

"IFOAM supports the principle that farmers should be paid for services for the benefit of environment and society, beyond food production," Mr Herrmann said, adding that world-over the interest in organic foods was on the rise, as people become more health conscious.

A significant amount of consumer interest was driving the global organic food market, estimated to be at $30 million. The European Union and the US account for about two thirds of the organic food market, Mr Herrmann said adding, "India is at the very beginning of organic agriculture, but has tremendous potential."

The organic agriculture, he said, was a holistic system that promotes and enhances bio diversity, biological cycles. It is cheaper as it consumes less energy and can become a tool for improving the yields, he said.

Maintaining that organic agriculture contributed to food security by increasing yields in low-input areas, producing safe and varied food and providing for long-term sustainability, Mr Herrmann said it also ensured that sufficient jobs were generated. The concept holds good for India where arable land is shrinking gradually not only due to urbanisation but also due to the fact that small farmers with marginal holdings who are unable to withstand the rising agri-input costs were giving up agriculture.

"We have to see that small farmers should be our focus. India can take a lead as there are millions of small farmers," Mr Herrmann said. The organic agriculture system delivers a lot of success, but it is of utmost importance that the government supports it with appropriate policy measures to promote it by not only creating awareness among the farmers but also among consumers as this market is mainly driven by the consumer demand.

India Organic meet

"India Organic-2005," a four-day agri-business meet focused on promoting and creating awareness about organic farming will start from Friday in Bangalore. The fair was being organised by the International Competence Centre for Organic Agriculture (ICCOA) in association with Karnataka and Union Government and Agricultural Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).

The Karnataka Horticulture Minister, Mr Alangur Srinivas, said that the fair would provide a common platform for buyers, sellers and other stakeholders of organic produce both in Karnataka and other States. The Union Minister for Agriculture, Mr Sharad Pawar, will be inaugurating the event, he said.

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