Inauguration of the second Roadshow of the International Trade Fair-2019, held on December 01, 2018, at the Poppys Hotel Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
Dignitaries :
– Smt. C N Nandini Kumari, Managing Director, KAPPEC Karnataka.
– Smt. Sublaxmi , Chairperson Sanlak Agro Industries, Tamil Nadu.
– Shri. M Altaf – TNOCD –TamilNadu State Organic Certification Department.
– Mr. Umesh Bagur , General Manager, KAPPEC Karnataka
– Mr. Jaydip Roy, General Manager, ICCOA ICCOA ( International Competence Centre for Organic Agriculture) Bengaluru.
– Mr.Vikram Sankaranarayana – Managing Director Sanlak Agro Industries, Tamil Nadu.
The programme at Coimbatore commenced with a welcome speech by Mr. Jaydip Roy, General Manager, ICCOA, Bengaluru, followed by an opening address by Smt. C N Nandini Kumari, Managing Director, KAPPEC, Karnataka.
She briefed about the value of millets and its growth in Karnataka in recent decades and opined that they are beneficial for marginal farmers as it could be grown in a very unfavourable, drought condition too. “It is considered to be the future crop as it is drought tolerant, relatively low in cost production and low maintenance, etc. Millets could be a great addition to the list of superfoods globally, and India could play a vital role in contributing its production share to the world of superfoods,” she added.
Shri. M Altaf, of the Tamil Nadu State Organic Certification Department (TNOCD), said that the TNOCD was established in the year 2007-2008 to carry out inspection and certification of organic production system in accordance with NPOP (National Programme for Organic Production), which was launched by the Government of India, in the year 2000, and notified in October 2001, under the Foreign Trade and Development Act (FTDR Act). The Tamil Nadu Organic Certification Department is accredited by APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Exports Development Authority), New Delhi, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
Tamil Nadu Organic Certification Department also imparts free training to the registered organic farmers on National Standards for Organic Production and Tamil Nadu Organic Certification Department Standards. During the year 2017-18, 30,910 acres of land was registered under Organic Certification by 3672 farmers in Tamil Nadu.
Mr. Jaydip Roy, General Manager, and Ms. Anitha, Assistant Manager, ICCOA, explained about the ICCOA and Government of Karnataka’s coordination since 2004, and about the area under organic cultivation registered a steady growth from 2,500 hectares to 86,000 hectares area under organic cultivation as on date. As per APEDA, the statewise export data in the year 2017-2018, the total value of organic products exported from Karnataka is about Rs. 186 cr. As per ICCOA’s estimate, the total value of organic production from Karnataka would be approximately Rs. 8,000 cr. There is a huge potential of farmers revenue to expand if they are connected through a proper market structure. This trade fair is organized to serve the same objective and make Karnataka as an Organic Hub.