In a boost to exports of organic products, a consignment of 10.20 MT of value-added products of organically certified gluten-free jackfruit powder and retort packed jackfruit cubes were exported to Germany from Bengaluru on 25 May 2021 via sea route. It has been processed in the APEDA assisted packhouse owned by Phalada Agro Research Foundations (PARF), Bengaluru.
APEDA registered PARF represents 1500 farmers with a wide coverage of around 12,000 acres of farms. These farmers grow medicinal and aromatic herbs, coconut, jackfruit, mango puree products, spices, and coffee.
According to the press release, PARF facilitates the certification process as per National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), European Union, National Organic Programme (the United States) standards to their small farmers' groups. The processing unit of PARF has been certified by APEDA under its accredited Organic Certification.
Recently, a shipment of 1.2 MT of fresh jackfruit was exported from Tripura to London. Jackfruits were sourced from the Tripura-based Krishi Sanyoga Agro Producer Company. The consignment was packed at APEDA assisted pack-house facility of Salt Range Supply Chain Solution and exported by Kiega EXIM. This was the first APEDA assisted packhouse for exports to European Union, which was approved in May 2021.
Under the NPOP, organic products are grown under a system of agriculture without chemical fertilizers and pesticides with an environmentally and socially responsible approach. This farming method works at the grass-root level, preserving the reproductive and regenerative capacity of the soil, good plant nutrition, and sound soil management; it produces nutritious food rich in vitality that has resistance to diseases. APEDAis currently implementing the NPOP, which involves the accreditation of certification bodies, standards for organic production, promotion of organic farming, and marketing.
In 2020-21, India produced around 3.49 million tons of certified organic products, which includes all varieties of food products, namely oil seeds, sugarcane, cereals, millets, cotton, pulses, aromatic &medicinal plants, tea, coffee, fruits, spices, dry fruits, vegetables, and processed foods.
Madhya Pradesh has covered the largest area under organic certification, followed by Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha, Sikkim and Uttar Pradesh. In 2020-21, the total volume of organic products export was 8.88 lakh MT and the export realization was around Rs 7,078 crore (US $ 1040 million).