Organic farms help to plough in rich returns

As last year’s trends show, the coming years could see Indian organic farming population growing and the acreage increasing at a rate above 100 %. Supermarkets are springing up in the South of India with special counters, selling organic products. In 2004 and 2005, India exported 234 tonne of organic spices, reports Economictimes. Tea, coffee, vegetables, coconut and other crops are also grown in this country. Indocert, a certifying agency, reports that the acreage increased from 17,230 acres in 2004 and 2005 to 30,164 in May 2006. About 400 farmers have been certified by Indocert since 2002. The number of groups with certification has increased to 23 (1,000 to 1,500 farmers per group). The Spices Board has set a tentative target to bring 50 % chillies production under organic farming system in five years. This would enable the farmers to get a premium of 20 – 25 %.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1559756.cms