CS stresses promotion of organic farming in Odisha

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Aug 12:

Oodisha chief secretary GC Pati today stressed the need for promotion of organic farming in a big way in Odisha.

“There should be a link between the organic farmer and the market to enable the farmer to get remunerative price,” Pati said addressing the National conference on Organic Farming for Eastern Region jointly organized by the Agro & Processed Food Products Development Authority (APEDA) and the ministry of Commerce and Industry in the city here.

Resource person Dr PVSM Gouri, advisor, organic food production, said Odisha has around 69055 hectares of certified area of organic cultivation of cotton, turmeric, vegetables and cashew that are spread over 15 districts.

Around 106 organic farmer groups have been formed involving more than 40,000 farmers. The total quantity of organic food production in the state is around 33,994 MT per year, she said while elaborating on various promotional schemes of the Centre for organic food production.

Organic farmers from Bihar, West Bangal, Chhatisgarh, Odisha and Jharkhand along with members from organic trades and representatives of certification agencies participated in the conference.