Shri Piyush Goyal along with Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, Shri Jitin Prasada, Minister of State for Cooperation, Shri Murlidhar Mohol, Minister of State for Cooperation, Shri Krishan Pal Gurjar, Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation, Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani and senior government officials unveiled a dedicated 8th Edition of NPOP portal as well as Organic Promotion Portal which will provide more visibility and ease of operations for Organic stakeholders.
TraceNet 2.0
They also unveiled TraceNet 2.0, the upgraded online traceability system for seamless operations and enhanced tools for regulatory oversight. The redesigned APEDA portal was also showcased with enhanced user experience and information for the benefit of Agri and Processed food products stakeholders. The redesigned AgriXchange portal was also launched. It will enable more user-friendly data analysis and generation of reports and data on Agricultural exports, making it accessible to the general public.
During the event, the Minister also distributed the first five registration certificates generated on TraceNet 2.0 to Organic operators. Shri Goyal, during his address, said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi underlined the importance of organic farming in his first Parliament speech. He also mentioned that the PM, during his speech on the 78th Independence Day. He also noted the growing importance of organic farming across the world and its far-reaching benefits on individual health and restoring soil nutrients.
The Minister also said that Union Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah has made huge contributions in simplifying and reducing application costs for the electronic service portal TraceNet 2.0. Shri Goyal further said that Shri Shah also noted the growing community of organic farmers through Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and Cooperatives in the country.
Organic Farming
Organic farming as a form of sustainable farming practice will help combat water scarcity. There is overapplication of fertilizers and pesticides harming soil quality and crop yields in the country, the Minister noted. Highlighting the farmers’ efforts in ensuring food security, Shri Goyal said that there is a significant push from the Government to promote organic farming.
Organic farming has become a priority for the nation and will be regarded as a valuable way of farming worldwide. Farmers adopting organic farming have seen an increase in yields and income, he said. The Minister said that organic farming plays a crucial role in Indian agriculture. He noted that the Government will benefit from increased exports of organic products to the world.
Packaging and Marketing
The Minister also said that there is a need to emphasize the packaging and marketing of organic products for the farmers to receive the right price for their produce. He also pointed out that this value chain will also help generate employment and the nation will gain popularity across the world. Shri Goyal praised the efforts of Amul, the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED), and National Co-operative Organics Limited (NCOL) for contributing to the growth of the organic sector. He also said the cooperative sector, farming sector, and trade sector will assist the organic sector to grow in the future.
There is a need to focus on market expansion and raise the quality standards of the products. Capacity building for the farmers and research on utilizing modern techniques for higher yields is also necessary. Higher yields will lead to higher availability of products which will help spur buying decisions of consumers, Minister Goyal said.
Amendments
The 8th edition of the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) introduces key amendments aimed at promoting ease of operations. Also, enhancing transparency for stakeholders, including farmers. Certification requirements for organic grower groups have been simplified, and these groups are now granted legal status in place of the Internal Control System (ICS). The revised derogation provisions allow for a potential reduction of up to three years. This is in the land conversion period to organic, subject to conditions and safeguards. The ICS of organic grower groups must ensure the procurement of the entire organic produce or establish market linkages to support farmers. Transparency is enhanced through the disclosure of information about organic farmers and other relevant details in the public domain, bolstering system credibility. Additionally, oversight mechanisms have been strengthened with the integration of IT tools and the web-based traceability system, Tracenet, for monitoring, surveillance, and data analytics.
Details of portals unveiled during the event:
- NPOP portal: The dedicated portal for the National Programme for Organic Production(NPOP) will provide more visibility and ease of operations for Organic stakeholders.
- Organic Promotion Portal: Farmers, FPOs, and exporters can showcase their certified organic products, generate Trade Leads, and connect with global buyers. This will also include online Training and capacity building sessions for operators on Organic production and also information on Organic Trade events.
- TraceNet 2.0: The upgraded online Organic traceability system for seamless operations and enhanced tools for regulatory oversight. It will ensure transparency, traceability, and compliance for organic agricultural and processed food products from farm to market. By integrating technology with agriculture, TraceNet empowers stakeholders to streamline operations and meet global organic certification standards.
- APEDA portal: Redesigned and revamped APEDA portal with enhanced user experience and information for the benefit of Agri and Processed food products’ stakeholders.
- AgriXchange portal: Redesigned and revamped AgriXchange portal enables more user-friendly data analysis and generation of reports & data on Agricultural exports making it accessible to the general public. Exporters can seamlessly connect with international buyers and sellers as well as explore comprehensive trade insights at their fingertips.
Global Exporter
With the launch of the 8th Edition of the NPOP, India is poised to strengthen its position as a leading global exporter of organic products, empowering stakeholders across the organic value chain. The new regulations underscore the government’s ongoing commitment to sustainable agriculture, farmer welfare, and food security.
The NPOP 8th Edition saw wide participation from government officials from both the Centre and State, embassy officials, and representatives. There were major trading partners like the USA, EU, Australia, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, New Zealand, and UAE. Industry leaders from international organizations like the FAO, IFOAM, and FiBL, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)/ Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs). Over 1000 farmers from the states of Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, Sikkim and Rajasthan.
Renowned companies from the Indian Organic Industry such as Organic India, Nature Bio Foods, Nature Pearls, Shresta, Jeev Amrit, Plantrich, PDS Spices, Amul and government Ministries and Departments like NAFED and NCOL respectively also showcased their products in the 11 stalls that were put up by APEDA.