The Organic World Congress 2017 in India

The Organic Farming Association of India (OFAI) is an organic-farmer-based organisation but also includes within its rolls most of the important organic farming organisations from various regions of the country. The first bid for hosting the OWC 2017 was made by OFAI on 3.9.2012.  The idea was to expose the global organic farming movement to the tremendous expansion of organic farming that has taken place in India in the past decade.  India is the only country today which recognizes the PGS method of organic certification because of its utility for small organic farmers. Going by IFOAM statistics, India hosts the largest number of organic farmers in the world. 

While the earlier government had no problems to support and sponsor the event, fresh negotiations with the new government are needed but will take place only in August. Serious efforts are being made to bring the Prime Minister himself to inaugurate the conference as a measure of his government's support for promoting organic agriculture in the country.

The date for the congress is from the 9th to the 11th of November 2017 in Delhi, for the General Assembly is the 12th to the 13th of November 2017, most likely in Delhi, Pragati Maidan. The OFAI will go ahead with its bid only if there is guarantee of support from the governments of India and New Delhi. Potential sponsors include the Government of India and Delhi, major players in organic including Organic India, ICCOA, others.

The program would include the presentation of the best organic practices in India by organic farmers themselves, cultural programmes (including plays, songs, classical dance on organic themes), a large-scale citizen-IFOAM interaction in order to bring awareness of organic food to common homes in Delhi and surrounding areas. An Organic Food Festival should also take place during the week of the congress.