An Organic Agri Conference at Angamaly Organized by ICCOA.

The International Competence Centre for Organic Agriculture (ICCOA), an organisation working across the entire value chain of organic agribusiness, in association with Nurnberg Messe India, is organising Asia’s biggest International Organic Trade Fair and Conference at Angamaly from November 5 to 7 ‘BioFach India together with India Organic 2014’.

BioFach will have high quality display from leading companies in business-to-consumer events, organic agri-business, business-to-business meetings, global buyer delegations and an international conference of organic markets and opportunities. ICCOA said that this event will also be the biggest meeting place for organic networks besides sharing expertise, knowledge and business practices.

It further said that for the country, BioFach India will offer one of the best platforms to showcase the organic produce, its diversity and the overall competence of farmers and farming groups from different states.

ICCOA said “Most consumers are now aware that food produced from conventional farming contain harmful residues and therefore they increasingly prefer foods produced through organic farming. The general public in Kerala is among the most aware with respect to healthy food, environment and ecological issues. Hence, the words organic products or ‘jaiva’ are quite popular among the consumers as well as large proportion of farmers. However, the holistic concept of organic farming is still not clear to many in Kerala. The government has announced large scale adoption of organic farming but without holistic understanding of organic farming, especially, in the context of Kerala and its unique strengths, weaknesses-opportunities and threats. There is a huge need for capacity building at many levels.”

Organic and sustainable agriculture is developing fast across the world. Recently UN adopted the new Sustainable Development Goals-2030, which has 17 sustainability goals to be achieved by 2030. Experts point out that Kerala can develop a good model of ‘development-cum-commercial success on organic and sustainable farming’ and can gain good international recognition. At present, in the national level, there is a greater focus and support for organic farming. Centre has earmarked various funds-MIDH funds for certified organic, PKVY funds for PGS Organic, NMSA/PKVY funds for Organic Villages.

Source:http://www.newindianexpress.com/