Organized organic agriculture movement, started way back in early 90s in India is well established now. Be it inspired by the Individual organic agricultural reformers spread across the country or the national, international NGOs, or some religious groups who are promoting non-violent organic farming and consumption of chemical free food among devotees, organic farming is something which is known to every Indian farmer. In almost every village one can find organic farmers practicing organic agriculture with devotion, largely in small groups with mutual support of similar peers of who share same ideals.

“It is for these unsung heroes Ecocert thought of launching a certification program; mainly to facilitate their access to soaring domestic organic market in India.”, said Dr Selvam Daniel, Managing Director of Ecocert India. “Usually what we get to see is that these self motivated organic farmers are totally disconnected from the organized organic market in the country. They practice organic out of sheer passion for organic and natural farming remaining isolated from the mainstream. But eventually end up selling their ‘safe’ produce in the local markets or within their health-conscious friends’ circle in low prices. On the other end we get to see the millions of health conscious consumers craving desperately for the authentic organic produce and with no or limited access to that.”

“Where organic food is available in big super markets, it is so highly expensive that consumer prefers continuing to buy the hazardous conventional produce than to buy organic products. Again many a times the most essential claims of independent certification are missing from organic products. Facilitating this bringing together of the right producer and right consumer is a real challenge the organic movement in India at the moment is facing,” says Dr Daniel

“The new scheme is meant for certifying small groups of 25-30 organic farmers in a given village or village development council. Any farmer whose land is less than 4 ha or 10 acres is considered as small farmer and can be a member of the group. Hence ideally around 250 acres of organic land could be brought under third party certification along with a small processing unit for single ingredient product viz. jaggery, ghee, rice, pulses, turmeric or chili powder etc. The certification cost for such groups is Rs 1400 per farmer annually. The costs involved are thus very affordable for getting certified the processed organic products at farm level. “, said Dr Amol Nirban, Business Development Manager of Ecocert India.

But still the question of linking these small groups to trustworthy domestic markets remains an important issue to be addressed.

Communication Strategist of Ecocert India Mr Rahul Motiyele says, “Ecocert India’s representatives are now present in every major part of the country. There they locally participate in every important trade expos, farmer markets, organize retailers’ or agri-entrepreneurs’ conventions. These platforms generate good amount of inquiries from the traders’ side. Few of them could be interested in starting their own retail shops or chains, home delivery program of both raw food and lunch boxes and their own restaurants. While many of the traders are interested in B2C transactions, few are interested in acting as vendors supplying organic produce in bulk to other enterprises and also some organizations viz. old age homes, hospitals, college or school cafeterias etc. Many of these aspiring organic entrepreneurs have no idea from where they could source authentic organic produce. It is at this point Ecocert’s new scheme can make the difference we feel.” Says Motiyele.

These interested organic traders could be encouraged by local Ecocert representatives to directly link with the organic farmers’ small groups for sourcing the required commodities. E.g. a retailer in NOIDA can actually identify a suitable organic farmers’ group or groups in the nearby region with the help of local Ecocert representative and directly share with them the annual cropping calendar of his/her choice with them. It is easier for a retailer from the logistic point of view since such farmers are located in the radius of 5-10 km only and they can provide the organic products of desirable choice in desirable quantities.

“The traders are not required to bear the costs of certification if they don’t wish to, since they are so moderate that even farmers themselves can bear. My frequent discussions with small groups of organic farmers in need of a right buyer have revealed this fact.” says Mr Vijay Deshwal, Ecocert representative for Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. “A mere guarantee of an assured recognized organic market is enough for an enthusiastic organic farmers’ group. Application for their group’s certification is the most obvious step by farmers in such situation.”

“Certification of Organized Grower Groups (OGG) is not a new concept. But we have launched this program for small groups. Small groups always prove to be more efficient when it comes to complying with organic standards thanks to the sheer size of the group which makes mutual interactions, knowledge gain, and peer pressure, peer appraisal etc possible. There is no need to hire an Internal Control System which is comprised of paid workers, from outside. Farmers’ representatives in such a small group can delegate among themselves these responsibilities of internal inspection, field extension officer, purchase officer, input distribution in charge and convener for certification etc. The harmonious atmosphere in the close knit group enables better internal control and smooth functioning.” says Dr Daniel.

“Ecocert has developed working guidelines for effective functioning of these groups. These guidelines conform to National Program of Organic Production. The official advertisement for this scheme is done weekly in Maharashtra through a famous agricultural daily Agrowon. We will repeat the same experiment in other parts of the country, “says Nirban.

“Small groups’ certification, small and direct supply chains and very small burden on the budget of organic farmers as well as the consumers is what characterizes this program! The program will alleviate soon the hurdles in domestic organic market development in India!” opines Nirban

“It’s been four years ECOCERT is aggressively working in Nepal for promotion of organic certification services. Our thrust areas have so far been certifying the herbs, essential oils, other processed herbal products and cosmetic products.  Nepal is indeed a rich source of rarest herbs of extraordinary therapeutic property and their conservation is possible only by means of sustainable organic trade with rest of the world,” said Dr Amol Nirban, Business Development Manager of ECOCERT India.

“The global organic industry is big.  In 2009, the global market for certified organic food and drink was estimated to be 54.9 billion US Dollars or approximately 40 billion Euros. The volume of the turnover with organic products has more than trebled since 1999. While the economic crisis slowed down growth in 2009 in many countries, or stagnated (Germany), some countries showed healthy growth also in 2009, for instance France (+19 percent) or Norway (+10 percent). But share of South Asian countries like Nepal is still very low in global market.” said Dr Abhishek Kumar, Manager, Herbal products division at ECOCERT India.

Nepal, which lies in the middle of the great Himalayan range, is famous for her natural medicinal plants and herbs. It is home to over 3500 different herbs. Many of these herbs and aromatic plants are very specific to the Himalayan Region and have high medicinal, culinary and cosmetic values.

The event that was held at Hotel Greenwich Village witnessed the enthusiastic participation of 30 different company’s representatives. Most of the personalities represented the sectors like conventional trading of wild harvested herbs, essential oils, nutraceuticals and herbal cosmetics.

“A small country like Nepal can not compete in the world market on the basis of quantity of its agricultural or herbs production. It has to launch the value added products like organic and fair trade certified raw as well as finished products to carve a niche for itself.”, says Mr Shanker Gurung, ECOCERT Representative for Nepal.

“This needs to be capitalised by encouraging the organic cultivation and sustainable wild collection of these medicinal and aromatic plants. ECOCERT’s convention certainly unearths the opportunities in this field for the farmers and traders here,” says Gurung.

“More and more consumers are increasingly looking for more ethically produced solutions of taking care of their bodies. The solutions, which could be complementary to the functioning of biosphere we live in. ECOCERT is certainly committed to the cause of making this world a better place to live through its rigorous certification programs and private standards for organic cosmetics and fair trade. The convention for herbal products in Nepal is another such attempt in the process of marching towards this final organizational goal.” says Nirban.  

Consumers along with their kids happily roaming around the stalls, discussing enthusiastically with the farmers over the displayed organic commodities, buying variety of them and flocking around the stalls selling traditional delicious cuisines made from organic ingredients! This isn’t an occasion from any farmers’ market in US or any supposedly mature organic market or Kavita Mukhi’s farmers’ market in Mumbai for that matter. The spectacular scene was witnessed consecutively for three days in the small city of Akola in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra on 26th to 28th May.

Deshonnati, a popular marathi newspaper, Krushakonnati, a popular marathi agricultural weekly and Ecocert India, an organic certification body in south Asian region had jointly organised a three days ‘Organic Food and Taste Festival’ in the city of Akola, Maharashtra. The festival witnessed a remarkable success.

“The total revenue of this three days festival in such a small city was around 0.6 million rupees, which is surprising and encouraging as well!”, says Dr Amol Nirban, Business Development Officer at Ecocert India. “The festival offered the rarest opportunity to buy diverse food commodities, processed food products, traditional cuisines and agricultural inputs – all organic!”

The objective of the event was to offer the region of Vidarbha a sustainable solution for its problems. The never-profitable agriculture, regularly occurring farmers’ suicides, weak local economy and failure of other measures to uplift the small farmers’ situation in the region forced Mr Prakash bhau Pohare to think of a lasting solution and a mechanism which can help stand the once self reliant farmers on their own again. He was also concerned over the increasing rate of ailments like cancer and several other disorders in the society after having continuously exposed to food from chemical agriculture.

“Organic and low budget farming! I couldn’t think of anything else than to promote organic farming among the debt-ridden farmers suffered by chemical agriculture”, says Prakash bhau. Prakash bhau Pohare is a long-time social activist, farmers’ leader and professionally chief editor of ‘Deshonnati’ and ‘Krushakonnati’ newspaper.

“And it wasn’t enough. Even the consumers around were required to be made aware of eating organic food. My recent interactions with officials of Ecocert India grew in the past two months and we together were of this firm belief that its only the local market availability for the certified organic food and trade opportunities in domestic market which can instill the feeling of self reliance and confidence among the minds of small farmers in Vidarbha.”, said Pohare.

In Vidarbha, there are many organic farmers’ groups, co-operatives and contract farming projects active in the field of organic cotton cultivation for past many years. The farmers associated with these projects also possess several other food commodities in organic (for which however there isn’t any recognised market.) The organic farmers associated with PGS (Participatory Guarantee System) movement and pioneering movements in organic agriculture like VOFA (Vidarbha Organic Farmers Association) are there in big numbers too. Many organic farmers were organic by choice for past more than 15-20 years. Few of them already have their own processing facilities and are working hard to find a dedicated space on the conventional retails stores’ shelves in cities like Mumbai and Pune.

“Most of the projects were cotton and export market oriented and hence affected by the vagaries of uncertainty in the same.”, says Dr Selvam Daniel, Managing Director of Ecocert India. “It was required to create an opportunity where they could sell their certified organic and toxin free food produce locally to the consumers in their own region and get an assured market.”

“There is a larger section in the Indian society who is in desperate need of safe food with authentic claims of endorsement. This emerging market, just around the organic fields, presents an opportunity wherein certified organic small farmers can sell their fresh fruits, vegetables, cereals, pulses, spices in the nearby cities and do not have to worry for the market trends in US, Europe and Japan. This food and taste festival did exactly the same. It did the much awaited ice breaking. It told the people of this city that the safe and harmless food they are looking for is ‘certified organic’ and demonstrated really well to the organic farmers that in a city like Akola certified organic food could be sold in big quantities.” says Nirban

“Most of the farmers like those in my group did not have to travel for more than 100 Km from their fields to this venue of festival. I am amazed by the response to organic food in my own region. The food stalls selling only traditional cuisines made with organic food commodities were receiving overwhelming response as well. I can see that my society is getting prepared enough for the organic as well as ‘slow food’ movement.”, says 29 year old Ashish Shinde, a graduate in agricultural sciences, an organic farmer himself and the owner of ‘Organic Farms’ a 4000 organic farmers’ group in Vidarbha region.

“The experience gained and encouragement received from this experiment is certainly important for us.”, says Rahul Motiyele, communication strategist from Ecocert India. “We have planned to undertake similar organic food and taste festivals in the major cities in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra in near future and thereby cultivating the habit of eating organically grown certified food among the consumers in Vidarbha and thereby creating a sustainable demand for food commodities from sustainable agriculture in the very region. We are hoping for a day when the suicides in the region stop completely by means of this market mechanism and the farmers regain the contentment once ever-existed in their hearts.”

Women are chosen by nature as the carriers and caretakers of the life on this planet.  They are the ones who sustain that flow of wisdom, values, ideals and ethics on the planet. They are chosen by nature for the holy responsibilities.

But they are also chosen by the Satan as it’s pray. Molestation, mistreatment, abuse is the fate of large section of human females everywhere in the world. It’s been like that for ages.

There’s been a new tool identified by Satan off late. The slow poisoning through chemical pesticides! Although the victims include almost the every life form on the planet, the more threatened ones are women besides children. One horrifying threat to the precious womanhood nowadays is – breast cancer!

However very few people, NGOs, reporters speak about the link between pesticide havoc on the earth and the globally increased rates of breast cancers. A layman too is educated to associate the causes of breast cancer to genetic ones alone.

But the research studies have something different facts to share. Check it out.

Numerous reports provide the evidence that breast cancer in females [and also testicular cancer, genital abnormalities and reduced sperm counts in males] are directly connected to the rise in exposure to chemical pollution including pesticides. In 1961 one in 20 women got breast cancer, in 1994, one in eight got it and in 2000, it was one in five. Pesticide use also has started and continuously grown globally after sixties contaminating the food chains, water and people.

Mary S. Wolff, a chemist at Mt Sinai School of Medicine in New York has studied the parallel rise in breast cancer with the increased use of DDT [a terribly persistent pesticide which was banned in seventies but which is still a part of our fat tissues and found in the household dust as well]. She has shown a correlation between blood levels of DDE, a breakdown of DDT, and breast cancer. According to her women with the highest amount of DDE were four times more likely to get breast cancer!

Ana Soto, an associate professor at the Tufts University school of Medicine, conducted tests with human breast cancer cells and found that residues of Endosulfan in food and water have a certain role to play in the emergence of this disorder.

In 1992, November, Greenpeace released a study linking the increase in breast cancer worldwide to certain synthetic chemicals. Major findings include:

1. The increase in breast cancer parallels the increased use of synthetic chemicals worldwide.
2. Industrialised nations with more severe pollution have higher breast cancer rates than non-industrialised ones. Women who live near chemical waste sites are six time more likely to develop breast cancer than women living where no sites exist.

Back home in India the situation is neither better. The country which witnessed the green revolution in sixties has also unfortunately encountered the increased cases of the revolution’s victims. The odourless, tasteless and colourless pesticide residues which remain undetected by the sense organs were reaching out to every corner of the Indian bodies in every corner of the country contaminating and getting detected in the blood, fat tissues, breast milk, placenta, semen and even the breath!

The figures say that the incidence of breast cancer in India is increasing with the estimated 80,000 new cases diagnosed annually! The number has increased by 50% between 1965 and 1985. It will be stupid not to attribute this phenomenon to the tide of chemicals born of the green revolution in the county…

In Delhi 28 of every 10,000 women suffer from breast cancer. According to the Delhi Cancer registry maintained by the ICMR, in the past decade the incidence rate in the city has increased by about 10%. It is estimated that 1 in 30 women in Delhi will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives!

The persistent organic pollutants like DDT, endosulfan, aldrin, endrin, lindane have the tendency to remain intact, not to degrade and accumulate in the area of body where fat content is high e.g. breasts, thus making women more vulnerable to their attack!

Nobody is going to take care of us. We ourselves have to learn the ways to prevent the disaster. Eat organically produced food only. Knowing the chemicals in our lives is the sure step towards detoxing the lives. Support the local organic farms, educate yourself and give just nutrition to your body – no chemicals.

Protect the womanhood! Because it is the carrier and caretaker of the life on this planet!

Ghee or clarified butter is largely a product of south Asia. The people in south Asia have traditionally prepared and consumed this milk delicacy for centuries at home. Almost every housewife knows the art of making ghee at home. Ghee, primarily an integral part of Indian home-cooked deserts, is also relished with other preparations like chapati/roti [bread], dal chawal [cooked rice mixed with cooked and fried lentil], khichadi [rice and lentil together cooked and fried] etc.

This nutritious and ayurveda endorsed dairy product is tasty too. Its appealing flavour transforms a normal meal to a feast. Over and above its dietary use, ghee is an indispensable part of religious and ceremonial rites as well.

But all is not well nowadays. Gone are those days when the cows and buffaloes of local sturdy breeds in the south Asian countries had access to non-contaminated green fodder, diverse herbs of exceptionally good medicinal qualities and were producing pure milk with just nutrition and no residues of  pesticides,  hormones etc. Milkmen were unaware about any other adulterant than water. And importantly the milk vendors were not enlightened until few years back that milk could be produced without livestock!

Today what one gets to consume in the name of ghee could be the coagulated mass of dead animals’ fat or [if it is indeed prepared from milk] a substance carrying loads of traces of artificial colours, flavours, weedicides, insecticides, fungicides and hormones. The effects on human body are numerous and needless to say that they can never be categorised as ‘good’ for the only obvious reason that nature does not intend the living creatures to eat the biocides and synthetic chemicals.

Having also already stated about the ceremonial and religious significance of ghee in Hindu culture, a conscious mind ought to question its owner, ‘is it ethical to offer the duplicate and polluted ghee to God? Is it going to please God?

If the very malpractices are offensive to nature, environment, farm animals the fellow humans, God is certainly not going to be satisfied by His devotees’ fouled offerings. And what about the vegetarianism? Does ghee anymore remain vegetarian if it is derived from the dead animals’ fat? Lot many ethical questions!

This all argument directs towards the need of adopting honest ways of making a fabulous food item called ghee and also the need to produce the milk in a legitimate way which can ensure just good natural taste, aroma and nutrition and nothing else! The solution is certified organic ghee. A ghee which is full of essentials vitamins like; vitamin A, D, E, K and devoid of toxins.

In the next communication I will write more about the benefits of organic ghee, the ways to produce it, the certification norms in brief and the possible marketing channels to ensure the ready availability of organic ghee around you.

We all love to feel and look beautiful. Unfortunately, and ironically, most beauty products we use, do more damage than good. From lotions, moisturizers, age creams, wrinkle creams, to make-up; each item is filled with chemicals, hormones, antibiotics, and all manner of unnatural lab-generated ingredients. The solution, obviously, is to go organic! Nowadays, there are many manufacturers of completely natural beauty products. Not only are these products effective, but also totally safe for our bodies.

From small cottage-sized industries to the largest corporations in the world, everyone has made a bee line to making organic beauty products. The good news, then, is that there has never been a better time to switch from traditional to organic products. They are safe, natural, revitalizing, and do not harm either the environment or the person using them.

In fact, why not go a step further and make our own organic beauty products? If I asked you what your beauty essential is, chances are, a majority would say lip balm. So let’s make our own. I kid you not. It is very easy! I have found this superb video, that explains how to make great quality, safe and fully natural lip balm at home!

No more going out and buying chemical-filled lip balm. No buying expensive mass manufactured organic lip balms either! A DIY lip balm – all natural!

It’s time we started treating nature, and our bodies, with the respect they deserve. I sure hope that upon watching this video, at least some of you would give it a shot and make some lip balm at home, and share your experiences with us… Live natural, go organic!

Yes, it’s something called bio-magnification. Simply put, it means that when any land or water body or plant or animal is treated with a certain chemical, the resultant affects don’t stay restricted to only them. They spread far & wide, move up the natural food chain, multiply several times in numbers & degree. Sitting on top of the food chain, we are ultimately exposed to the same chemicals! Also, by the time it reaches us, it has taken on an even deadlier form!!

I found this really great and eye-opening video that explains the phenomenon of bio-magnification very well, using real life examples of its occurrence. Sample this: A certain chemical in California was intended to tackle one specific problem in the water. But its consumption was passed from the small fish to the large ones, and ultimately to the human inhabitants of that area; with disastrous results to their health & safety!

It is startling, but crystal clear. Those of us, who thought we are immune to the ill-effects of chemicals in the environment as long as we stick to organic food, are fooling ourselves. Because, unfortunately, there are really no guarantees. We are exposed & vulnerable to chemical threats. Where and how they come from, there is no way of telling.

The solution? The best solution is to lead as much of a holistic organic life as possible. By not restricting our organic usage to only food products and produce, but embracing an overall organic lifestyle, we best reduce the chances of exposing ourselves and our families to chemicals and phenomena, such as bio-magnification.

Save your families and yourselves today! Go organic! It is the only solution to health, wealth and long term happiness!

In the past, we’ve examined in great detail, the benefits of organic food & lifestyle. Having said that, our discussions have been somewhat myopic. We have delved deep into establishing the immediate health benefits of organic food & life to ourselves, and made a general study of how organic life is good for the environment. However, there is a much wider, more macro level at which organic food & farming works.

It is this area I will be discussing this time. Organic food is great for us as human beings. It is also very good for the environment, since crops are grown naturally, as against polluting nature with chemicals and harmful genetically-modified inputs. But what we don’t fully realize is the extent of the advantages to the environment, of leading an organic life.

It’s a perfectly logical situation, but one that tends to escape our everyday realities. To fully appreciate the advantages and necessity of organic food & farming, I have found the perfect video. This video explains just how important it has become to return to natural farming ways. The best part is, this is a lighthearted story, that tells the facts as they are. But it is not a lecture or a lesson and hence can be shown to people of all age groups, who’ll enjoy it for its quirkiness, and understand the message.

Without giving away too much, I can say that it is absolutely essential viewing. More importantly, it is imperative that we return to organic farming, because it is the one thing, that will rebuilt the rich biodiversity our planet is loosing! What this video will make us realize is that organic food & farming is not a lifestyle choice anymore, but an essential way of being… there is just no option!

So have fun, but also imbibe the message in the video.. Organic lifestyle is the only way forward for Earth as a planet, and for us as the human race!

We have spoken a lot about going organic with our food and lifestyle, how to ensure that the products we consume are certified organic by an authentic agency like Ecocert, and even discussed organic farming. But what we haven’t seen too much of, perhaps, is that in our very own country, in our rural backyard, in fact, there are families like the one in this real life case study video, that are thriving on organic lives. They lead extremely simple, yet healthy existences.

Going organic is much more than eating organic foods and using organic products – beauty products, home product, or any other. It is about a sustainable, natural way of living. A way of life that is organic in the most basic sense of the word. I saw this video and was amazed at what this family has achieved by applying simple organic solutions to their everyday needs.

Their power generation, for example, is a most ingenious result – generation by using cow-dung. They turn leaves and shrubs using everyday worms into highly effective manure. It’s a remarkable feat, with no foreign agent or chemical used at all. The bi-products are also natural and get reused in the farm. The most striking part, however, is that this healthy living leaves a glow on the flora and fauna of the estate as much as on the faces of its residents. They don’t just look healthy, they are bouncing with energy, vitality & joy! It is the genuine goodness that comes when there is absolutely no chemical or artificial substance in use.

I hope this story inspires you the way it has inspired me. I am moved, motivated, and ready to induce a heightened level of organic living in my life. I am confident it will do the same for you. So, until next time, reach for a higher, simpler, and healthier lifestyle. Be organic!

Last time, we didn’t just talk about food. We touched upon many other ways in which an organic lifestyle can be led. Be it the cleaning agents we use in our homes, or the cosmetics & beauty products, that we so religiously apply; everything is now available in healthier, organic alternatives. Our lives can be fresh, natural, clean and nourishing again.

We also know that organic food in available in abundance. In fact, talk to any new culinary chef and you will find that they are organic-produce users. Older chefs are also quickly turning organic. Obviously, there is a strong reason. The reason is – healthy, non-modified, chemical-free food tastes better, feels right, is great for the mind & body, and is completely enriching for the soul!

Now, that got me thinking. We’ve been going on and on about how to eat healthy and where & how to buy all these lovely natural fruits, vegetables and other produce from. But we forgotten to address one thing. Many of us are blessed with gardens, or are keen to have gardens; and the absolute best thing to do, is to become an organic gardener! Yes, grow organic produce right in your back-yard, or in your garden allotment. Not only will you have the satisfaction of consuming things you yourself grow, but also be one with mother nature. Get out of your homes & offices and into the open, and bond with everything healthy and natural!

So how do you become an organic gardener? Well, I have just the perfect starter-kit for you. This video will tell you, as succinctly and simply as possible, how you can become an organic gardener.

Watching this video has had an immense impact on me, and I am actively on the lookout for my little patch of garden heaven, where I can start my organic garden. Trust me, it’s really not that tough. I guarantee you, it will be the best step you ever took!

So don’t just chew on this video, seriously consider becoming an organic gardener. Until the next time, happy gardening!