Piyush Goyal Launches 8th Edition of National Programme for Organic Production

· India’s Organic Exports to Reach Rs 20,000 crore in the Next Three Years

· Organic Farming a Sustainable Farming Solution to Combat Water Scarcity, Excessive Use of Pesticides

· TraceNet 2.0, APEDA, NPOP, Organic Promotion and AgriXchange Portals Unveiled

[ABS News Service/10.01.2025]

India’s total export value of organic farming has the potential to reach Rs 20,000 crore in the next three years. This was stated by Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal on 9 January, 2025 during his address at the launch of 8th edition of National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) at the Bharat Ratna C. Subramaniam Auditorium (NASC Complex), Pusa in New Delhi.

Piyush Goyal along with Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, Jitin Prasada, Minister of State for Cooperation, Murlidhar Mohol, Minister of State for Cooperation, Krishan Pal Gurjar, Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation, Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani and senior government officials unveiled a dedicated NPOP portal as well as Organic Promotion Portal which will provide more visibility and ease of operations for Organic stakeholders.

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 & data of Agricultural exports making it accessible for the general public.

During the event, the Minister also distributed the first five registration certificates generated on TraceNet 2.0 to Organic operators.

Mr. Goyal during his address said that Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi underlined the importance of organic farming in his first Parliament speech. He also mentioned that the PM during his speech on 78th Independence Day 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, Mr. Amit Shah has made huge contributions in simplifying and reducing application costs for the electronic service portal TraceNet 2.0. Mr. Goyal further said that Mr. Shah also noted the growing community of organic farmers through Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and Cooperatives in the country.

Organic farming as a form of sustainable farming practice will help combat water scarcity and overapplication of fertilisers and pesticides harming soil quality and crop yields in the country, the Minister noted. Highlighting the farmers’ efforts in ensuring food security, Mr. 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 across the world. 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.

The Minister also said that there is a need to put emphasis on packaging and marketing of the 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. Mr. Goyal praised the efforts of Amul, 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 the trade sector will assist the organic sector to grow in the future.

There is a need to focus on market expansion and raise quality standards of the products. Capacity building for the farmers and research on utilising 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.

The 8th edition of the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) introduces key amendments aimed at promoting ease of operations and 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 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 of Agricultural exports making it accessible for the general public. Exporters can seamlessly connect with international buyers and sellers as well as explore comprehensive trade insights at their fingertips.

The National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) is a key government programme that strengthens India's organic certification system, promoting sustainable farming practices and opening new opportunities for farmers and exporters. By setting high standards for organic products, NPOP enhances India’s competitiveness in the global organic market, while helping farmers adopt eco-friendly and economically viable practices.

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 occasion saw wide participation from government officials from both the Centre and State, embassy officials and representatives from major trading partners like 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) and 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.

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is the apex body under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry responsible for promoting the export of agricultural and processed food products. APEDA plays a crucial role in fostering the growth of India’s organic export sector.