Organic products are a huge hit in Bengaluru. Advised by wellness and health experts, many have switched to organic products to overcome or evade lifestyle diseases. But the recurring question haunting every Bengalurean is this: Is everything they buy in organic stores, organic?
Although there is no official certification of organic products, the business of organic produce has grown beyond imagination just on the concept of ‘trust’; and is currently a whopping Rs 250 crore business in Bengaluru alone.
However, the increasing clamour for organic products and possibility of fraudulent practices in the trade has forced the state government to put an end to such huge business relying merely on ‘trust’.
Putting an end to such trade mechanism, the state government has now brought in a system of certification of organic products and accordingly identified some of the agencies to certify organic products from field to market at all stages.
Acknowledging that organic produce sale is happening just on the ‘trust’ factor, agriculture minister Krishna Byregowda said, “All these years the business is happening only on trust. Though there have been certification mechanisms, the procedures did not matter much. In fact, it is the credibility factor which has created more demand for the products. If traders have compromised on quality, then there would have been no demand. Yet the government is taking steps to certify organic produce.”
Accordingly, a few agencies have been certified by Agricultural and Processed food products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and other nodal agencies. “There are three different mechanisms of certifying the products. Till date, no complaints have been registered against any produce. In fact, the residual tests cost about Rs 25,000 per test. We have been mulling over the possibility of setting up our own laboratory and offer the same test for Rs 5,000. So that people can bring any produce and verify the claims of organic tag,” the minister said.
The national trade fair on organics and millets at Palace Grounds from April 28 to 30 by the state will showcase varieties of millets and cuisines of millets to urbanites, besides familiarising people with the use and health benefits of using millets.
Credit: Bangalore Mirror
