North News
New Delhi, January 10
India’s organic farming exports are poised to reach ₹20,000 crore in the next three years, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal announced at the launch of the 8th National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP). Goyal unveiled the NPOP and related initiatives, including TraceNet 2.0, a web-based traceability system for monitoring organic produce, and a revamped APEDA portal aimed at enhancing agricultural export data accessibility. He emphasized the government’s focus on organic farming as a sustainable agricultural practice that restores soil health and combats water scarcity.
“Farmers adopting organic methods have seen increased yields and incomes. Organic farming is a priority for our nation and will be globally recognized as a sustainable model,” Goyal said. He highlighted the role of cooperatives and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) in boosting organic production and marketing. The event also showcased updates to certification processes and eased land conversion requirements under the NPOP, which are expected to increase transparency and ease of operations for stakeholders. Goyal credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for prioritizing organic farming since his first parliamentary address and highlighted contributions by Home Minister Amit Shah in reducing application costs for the TraceNet portal. He also stressed the importance of packaging, marketing, and quality standards to ensure farmers receive fair value for their produce.
