A Guide to Organic Agriculture in Bhutan
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Acknowledgements Contents 1. Introduction 01 I would like to thankfully acknowledge the encouraging support and advice from many 1.1 Sustainable Agriculture 02 offi cers, professionals and scientists from various government departments, academic 1.2 Why Sustainable Agriculture? 03 and R&D institutions in Bhutan and in particular. Mr. Chencho Norbu, Director, Mr. 1.2.1 Ecological Sustainability 04 Ganesh Chettri, Specialist Agriculture, Department of Agriculture, Mr. P.M. Pradhan, 1.2.2 Economic Sustainability 05 MD, Druk Seed Corporation, Mrs.Karma Dema and Mr. Tshewang Dorji, Scientists, 1.2.3 Social Sustainability 06 NSSC, Mr. Doe Doe, Scientist, NPPC and Mr. Karma Nidup, Scientist, BPDP. 1.3 Background of organic agriculture 07 1.4 Low-cost Organic Agriculture Systems 08 1.4.1 Vedic Agriculture 18 The support of SNV Bhutan in facilitating rural development activities with appropri- 1.4.2 Organic Agriculture 10 ate clean technologies like, organic agriculture for sustainable livelihoods of small 1.4.3 Biodynamic Agriculture 11 farmers is highly appreciable. The fi nancial support for preparing this document from 1.4.4 Permaculture 12 SNV, Bhutan, through the facilitation of Ms. Christine McMohan, Country Director, 1.4.5 Effective Micro-organisms 13 SNV Bhutan is gratefully acknowledged. 1.4.6 Natural Farming 14 1.5 Principles of Organic farming 14 1.6 Bhutan – The land of Thunder Dragon 15 I thank the relentless support and profound gratitude of Ms. Kesang Tshomo, Coor- 1.6.1 Agriculture 17 dinator, National Organic Program, Department of Agriculture in the preparation of 1.6.2 Buddhism and Agriculture: A communion 19 this document. 2. Standards, Regulations and Certifi cation 21 The constant and unceasing support of Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup, Ex-Minister of Ag- 2.1 Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) 21 2.1.1 Risk Minimising Measures 22 riculture, Mr. Sherub Gyaltshen, Director General, Department of Agriculture and Mr. 2.1.1.1 Pre-planting Measures 22 Subhash Mehta, for the development of Organic Agriculture in Bhutan. 2.1.1.2 Production Measures 23 2.1.1.3 Harvest Measures 23 My sincere thanks, to Ms. Sangita Sharma, Director, Annadana Soil and Seed Savers 2.1.1.4 Post-harvest Measures 24 Network, Bangalore and Ms. Nivedita Varshneya, Program Manager,German Agro 2.2 Standards and Regulations for Organic Products 25 Action, New Delhi for their inputs. 2.3 Organic Certifi cation 26 2.3.1 Purpose of Certifi cation 27 2.3.2 Certifi cation Process 27 Tashi Delek 2.3.2.1 Certifi cation decision 28 Dr.A.Thimmaiah 2.3.2.2 Use of Certifi cation logo and label 29 Consultant 2.3.2.3 Appeal 29 2.4 Documentation of farm records and Traceability 29 06/12/07 2.4.1 Internal Control System (ICS) 29 2.4.2 Developing ICS 29 2.4.2.1 The operator and its policy 30 2.4.2.2 Description of production and processing 30 2.4.2.3 Functioning of ICS 31 2.4.2.4 Tasks and responsibilities 31 2.4.2.4.1 Organic Approval Committee (OAC) 31 2.4.2.4.2 Organic project staff 31 5.1.2 Major Actions 81 2.4.2.4.3 Training 32 5.1.3 Specifi c Activities 81 2.4.2.4.4 Overview of documentation and procedures 32 5.2 Policy Measures 82 2.5 Grower Group Certifi cation 35 5.3 Support Systems 83 2.6 Development of a legal framework for organic agriculture in Bhutan 36 5.3.1 Bio-village 83 2.7 Developing an organization of a certifi cation body 37 5.3.2 Farmer Field Schools 84 2.8 Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) 38 5.4 Interventions to assist organic farming and development of the sector 85 2.9 Fairtrade 39 5.4.1 Small farmers 85 5.4.2 Processing industry 86 3. Market for Organic Produce: Trends and Opportunities 41 5.4.3 Certifi cation 86 3.1 Markets for Organic Food 42 5.4.4 Domestic Consumers 86 3.2 Challenges and Opportunities 43 5.4.5 Agricultural Research 87 3.3 Linking small- farmers to market 44 5.4.6 HRD Policy for Knowledge based Agriculture 87 3.4 Structure of Farmers Association or Consortium 45 3.5 Value Addition through Food Preservation 46 6. References 88 3.6 Methods of Food Preservation 47 7. Appendix 91 4. Organic production 49 1. ICS Formats 91 4.1 Nutrient management 50 2. Codex Alimentarius 98 4.1.1 Plant nutrition 50 3. Basic Organic Agriculture Standards 105 4.1.2 Soil Organic matter 51 4.1.3 Inputs for Nutrient management 52 4.1.4 Cultural practices for improving soil fertility 59 List of Tables 4.2 Plant protection 60 Table 1: Organic Food Category Sales in the US 42 4.2.1 Cultural Practices 61 Table 2: Countries clustered by stage of organic market development 43 4.2.2 Mechanical practices 63 Table 3: Elements derived by plants from atmosphere and soil 50 4.2.3 Botanical Pesticides 65 Table 4: List of bio-fertilizers along with target crops 57 4.2.3.1 Disease management 67 Table 5: Examples of predators 73 4.2.4 Bio-pesticides 68 4.2.4.1 Bacterial bio-pesticides 68 4.2.4.2 Fungal bio-pesticides 70 List of Plates 4.2.4.3 Viral bio-pesticides 70 1. Agriculture in Bhutan 18 4.2.4.4 Management of diseases 71 2. Culture in Agriculture 19 4.2.5. Biological control 72 3. Seed Conservation 20 4.2.5.1 Biological control Agents 72 4. Labels of International Certifi cation Bodies 41 4.3 Seeds 74 5. Sun drying of Chillies in Bhutan 48 4.4 Converting Farm to Organic 76 4.4.1 Key Elements for Conversion 77 4.4.2 Strategy for Conversion 77 4.4.3 Action Plan for Conversion 78 5. Agricultural Policy and Support Systems 79 5.1 Approach 80 5.1.1 Major Strategies 81 Acronyms WFP World Food Programme AMS Agricultural Marketing Services WWF World Wildlife Fund AQIS Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service BAFRA Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Association BLSS Bhutan Living Standard Survey BRC British Retail Consortium COLEACP Comite de Liaison Europe Afrique Caraibes Pacifi que CoRRB Council for RNR Research of Bhutan CPP Cow Pat Pit Manure DoA Department of Agriculture DoF Department of Forest DoL Department of Livestock EU European Union EUREP Euro-Retailer Produce Working Group FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FPC Fresh Produce Consortium GAP Good Agriculture Practices GDP Gross Domestic Product GNH Gross National Happiness IFOAM International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature JAS Japanese Agricultural Standard MoA Ministry of Agriculture NGO Non Government Organizations NOP National Organic Program (of US) NPHC National Post Harvest Centre NPPC National Plant Protection Centre NSSC National Soil Services Centre OAC Organic Approval Committee PPD Planning and Policy Division QAI Quality Assurance International RNR Renewable Natural Resources RoGB Royal Government of Bhutan SHG Self Help Groups UK United Kingdom UKFSA United Kingdom Food Standard Agency UKROFS United Kingdom Register of Organic Food Standards UNEP United Nations Environment Program USD United States Dollar USDA United States Department of Agriculture 1 2 1. Introduction in technology and information and less intensive in the use of energy and market- purchased inputs (Swaminathan, 2006). Sustainable agriculture is a unifying concept, The growing human population and the intensive agriculture practices with the use which considers ecological, environmental, philosophical, ethical and social impacts, of synthetic agro-chemicals like fertilizers, pesticides etc., is exerting great pressure balanced with cost effectiveness. In other words, a system of farming which is eco- globally on the natural resources used for farming. In the last decade a series of ques- logically sound, economically feasible and socially just, is the need of the hour. tions are raised which warrants attention in order to produce food, fodder, fi bre and other agricultural commodities to the burgeoning population by restoring the natural 1.1 Sustainable Agriculture resources. Some of the concerns are: Sustainability is defi ned considering different dimensions, ranging from the narrow • The cost of intensive agriculture has eroded the biological potential of the soil focus on economics or production to the incorporation of culture and ecology. In sci- and depleted the underground water resources. entifi c literature sustainability is usually understood in a more holistic way. The In- ternational Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), United Nations Environment • In intensively cropped areas, more energy in the form of mineral fertilizers, Program (UNEP) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) defi nes sustainable development chemical pesticides and farm machinery is required each year to produce the as ‘improving the quality of human life while living within the carrying capacity same quantity of grain, or other farm products. of supporting ecosystems’. This necessitates the conservation and improvement of natural ecosystems through research, training, technology, community co-operation • Increase in damage caused by pests and disease worsening. and public policies. The World Bank describes the requirement for sustainable agricultural systems as being “environmentally sound, fi nancially and economically • Scientifi c studies reveal that the modern agricultural system increases the feasible and socially acceptable”. (www.worldbank.org) volume of the ‘green house gases’ in the atmosphere. During the earth summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the UN Food and Agriculture • Genetic heterogeneity of earlier agricultural systems is replaced by genetic Organization (FAO) defi ned sustainable and rural development as follows: homogeneity in crops and animals, thereby making them more vulnerable to ‘Sustainable development is the management and conservation of the natural biotic and abiotic stresses.