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Organic World Congress 2017 Newsletter of the Organic Farming Association of India February 2016. Issue Twenty-One (For private circulation) THE(Past issues at www.ofai.org) LIVING FIELD Organic World Congress 2017 (Jaivik Krishi Vishwa Kumbh) World’s biggest organic farming event comes to India, with OFAI as host • Event will take place from November 9-11, 2017 at New Delhi • Prime Minister being invited to inaugurate the World Congress • Ministry of Agriculture decides to associate as “joint-organiser” • National Centre of Organic Farming is member of Congress Steering Committee • Organic farmers to get four separate halls to make their presentations • BIOFACH Trade Fair will be part of the event • OFAI members will get priority provided they act on time The Organic World Congress (OWC), The specific aim of the OWC is to organised by IFOAM - Organics Inter- showcase the organic farming practices and national, is held in a different country innovations of organic farmers from Asia, every three years. Africa and Latin America to the rest of the It was held last in Istanbul, in October world, with strong emphasis on the pioneer: 2014. India. The procedure is that organisations, or For this reason, this Congress will even governments, make a formal bid (via be much different from OFAI’s Biennial a presentation) to the General Assembly Conventions. Only selected and regis- of IFOAM to host the Congress in their tered participants who can contribute country. The IFOAM World Assembly then some valuable content to the world chooses the best bid by ballot. community of organic farming will be able to enter the venue. At Istanbul, the bid put up by OFAI and its trade event partner (PDA Trade Fairs Newcomers to organic farming, including could afford a minimum of one lakh rupees those who are still doing chemical farm- and Events, Bengaluru) was voted in the equivalent could participate. best proposal. OFAI won the bid against ing and want to get introduced to organic competition from Russia, China and Brazil. All that has now been changed with the farming, will not be able to register for this India edition of the Congress. Congress. OFAI was able to bid because PDA Trade Fairs agreed to make the necessary financial The 2017 OWC will cost lower than Only those organic farmers who have an investments required for holding a World all the earlier OWCs. In fact, the registra- innovation or technique which the world Congress of this kind. tion charges for Indian organic farmers is organic farming community would benefit Rs.2000 only, for all three days, inclusive of from knowing about, would get first chance. Once assured that OFAI and PDA Trade meals. Fairs had the requisite financial muscle So if you are an organic farmer and fall to host the event, the General Assembly All organic farmers from Asia, Africa and into the category of farmers who have tried found OFAI’s proposal – to turn the OWC Latin America are being provided 50% off out some successful organic farming tech- into a world organic farmers’ event – most on the registration fees. nique or any innovation connected with interesting and attractive. Hitherto, almost Since this is an OFAI hosted event, OFAI organic farming, and want to share it with all OWC events have been unsuccessful in members will get priority in registration. the whole world, start work immediately. attracting organic farmers. This is because OWC India is being held in the spirit of Pages 4 and 5 of this newsletter provide participants must pay their own fares, a kumbh. The three days will be a conflu- all details of how you can try to get your accommodation, and steep registration ence spot of organic farmers from across the presentation prepared and accepted for the fees. This has ensured that only those who world. OWC. 2 More details about the Organic World Congress 2017 The Organic World Congress is being held Organic Farming Sourcebook in New Delhi from November 9-11, 2017 and will have several major components. Update The main focus of the event is of course the The first ever documentation of the 5 “tracks” through which the Congress is organic farming community – the generally organised. Organic Farming Source Book – is be- ing updated, to be released during the These 5 “tracks” will be organised indepen- OWC 2017. dently in 8 separate halls at the Trade Expo and Mart complex in Greater Noida. We welcome you all to send in your comments or corrections about the These include the Main Track (2), the Sci- information in the earlier edition. Some ence Track (1), the Workshops Track (1), the organic farmers have already left the Farmers Track (3) and the Marketing and planet. A few have even returned to Assurance Track (1). conventional farmers. A veritable new The Farmers’ Track will be held in three Other major events at OWC: army of new organic farmers is now on separate halls. The Congress Steering Committee (CSC) the horizon. Please help us with what- One additional space for farmer experi- which is monitoring the organisation of the ever information you can send us either ments will be held in the grounds outside event on behalf of both IFOAM - Organ- through letter, email or even by phone. the halls. ics International and OFAI, has agreed to All written or typed information should All the farmer track events will be the exclu- OFAI’s suggestion to work to create a cel- be sent to: sive responsibility of OFAI. ebratory atmosphere at the Congress venue. OFAI The marketing and assurance track will Nehha Bhatnagar from Sarvan Foundation G-8, St Britto’s Apts., be in the hands of the National Centre has been invited to head the team that will Feira Alta, of Organic Farming (NCOF) which will ensure a world class cultural show for the Mapusa 403507 Goa. focus principally on large scale exposure to delegates. All cultural troupes wishing to Phone - 0832-2255913 certification under PGS. The sessions will be submit items for the cultural event will send Email - [email protected] managed by NCOF, PGS Organic Council, their proposals to the Sarvam Foundation ICCOA, World Fair Trade Organisation, which will select them from all aspects. A new book called A Sourcebook on etc. Chairing the Market Track is Dr A.K. Wendell Rodricks, one of India’s most India’s Organic Seeds is forthcoming Yadav, former Director, NCOF. creative fashion designers and a supporter of from the Other India Bookstore. It is a compilation that provides easy access The science track will be under the gen- organic farming, will present a fashion show to traditional folk seed knowledge for eral supervision of Gerald Rahman, from of organic and handwoven fabric. farmers, and champions the cause of IFOAM. Farmers and agricultural research In the year 2017, BIOFACH India will their conservation. scientists may also present papers in the sci- host its trade show on organic also at the For more information, or to buy a copy ence track. same venue, under the overall rubric of contact the Other India Bookstore. Though OFAI will ensure that all the five the OWC. All those in the organic trade Phone - 0832-2263305 tracks run successfully with maximum at- wishing to put up stalls for purpose of B2B Email- [email protected] tendance, it will focus all its organisational promotion will sign up directly with BIO- skills on the farmer presentations. FACH. Cultural events at OWC 2017 Considering the number of farmers wanting Official pavilions of governments, both cen- tral, state and foreign will be allocated space to make presentations, a total of 240 or- The OWC will play host to organic in a separate hall, adjoining the Congress, ganic farmers from across the world may be farmers from all over the world. To wel- and will sign up directly with OWC itself. accommodated in the three-day time-table. come them and show them the flavours Of these only about 100 slots (perhaps less) A small number of pre-conferences are also and colours of India, we are organising may be available for Indian organic farm- being organised one day prior to the OWC a cultural extravaganza with song and ers, while the balance 140 will go to farmers event. These will be hosted at the NCOF dance from all regions of India. from Africa, Latin America, Asia and other premises in Ghaziabad and other locations. parts of the world. Overall charge of the cultural events is Post-OWC, members of the General As- with Nehha Bhatnagar of the Sarvam OFAI is proposing to sign a MOU with sembly of IFOAM - Organics International Foundation and her team. Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) will shift to New Delhi city proper, to hold If you want to contribute to the cultur- New Delhi which will take overall charge the 22nd General Assembly (GA) of the al night events, please let Nehha know. of copying and formatting all soft copies organisation. The business of the association She will personally visit you, so that of farmer presentations and ensuring their will be conducted over 12 and 13 of No- you can present the cultural item to her ready availability during the Congress. vember, 2017. The GA will also elect a new and she can come to an opinion. Besides the farmer presentations, the OWC Executive Board to manage the association will also see the largest possible seed exhi- for the next three years. Her address: bition in our times. A group of seedkeep- For delegates who wish to see and visit Nehha Bhatnagar ers will handle the arrangements for seed organic farms, OFAI will be making the Sarvam Foundation display.
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