Organic Farming Association Has a New President: Sarvdaman Patel

April 2010 Issue Eleven (For private circulation) THE(Past issues at www.ofai.org) LIVING FIELD Organic Farming Association has a new President: Sarvdaman Patel

Outgoing President, D.D. Bharamagoudra hands over charge of the Organic Farming Association of India to Sarvdaman Patel, one of Gujarat’s best known organic farmers, while Claude Alvares, Association Secretary (extreme left), Jayant Barve, Association Treasurer and Bharatendu Prakash, OFAI’s North India coordinator look on and applaud. The election took place at Indore on February 10, 2010 and was unanimous.

The Organic Farming Association of India people have now come into the organization cows and is a stunning example of what a has a new President. Sarvdaman Patel, one of at its highest levels. This can only dynamise good organic farmer should be. India’s best organic farmers from Gujarat, was the functioning of the association. He often uses his farm as a training centre for unanimously elected to the highest office of Since the next biennial convention of the persons who want to know more about biody- the association at its General Body meeting Association is to be held later this year in Gu- namic agriculture. held in Indore on February 20, 2010. jarat, it was perhaps appropriate that the new The Association is pleased to have him at its Elected with him were the Association’s first President also hails from the same state. helm and prays that he will take it to ever Secretary (Claude Alvares) and Treasurer (Jay- Sarvdaman Patel, however, does not any great heights in the next three years. ant Barve), both these to second terms. The longer belong only to Gujarat. He is now The NSC also bade farewell to DD Bharama- National Steering Committee was obviously claimed by organic farmers from every other interested in maintaining a strong continu- goudra, the first President of the Association state. An outstanding farmer who was trained who helped build, through his charismatic and ity with the outgoing NSC and the outgoing in biodynamic methods of organic agriculture, Managing Committee. dynamic leadership, a strong association in he brings to his new task a great (towering) its formative years. DD has recovered from a As per the procedures laid down in the bye- presence, charm, serious commitment to the serious heart-bypass operation last year, but his laws, the new National Steering Committee cause of organic farming and most important doctors have advised him not to exert himself was first constituted from the elected persons of all, fantastic experience, mostly self-taught, at this stage. For this reason he was not keen coming in from various states. The new NSC in the methods of doing successful organic on taking up another term as President. then went into secret ballot to elect the mem- agriculture. bers of the Managing Committee. DD has been unanimously requested by the Like his predecessor, D.D. Bharamagoudra, NSC to join OFAI’s panel of Advisors. DD The NSC meeting was adjourned to allow the Sarvdaman Patel is a 100% farmer who spends has readily agreed to the proposal. That way 9-member Managing Committee to elect the not less than six hours every day on his farm he retains his close association with OFAI. President, Secretary and Treasurer. at Anand. He markets his produce through [See related report on p.2] The elections were held freely and were a shop set up at the farm gate. and through conducted with great enthusiasm. Through green stores in cities like Vadodara He is a the election process a large number of young consummate composter, maintains a herd of 2 Election of new NSC and Managing Committee of OFAI The 11th meeting of the NSC-1 (the term of Janadhanya/GREEN Foundation and DISHA, the new President of OFAI, the second nomi- which expired once the new members took the first three being independent Facilitat- nee (Kapil Shah) voluntarily stepped down charge) and the first meeting of NSC-2 of ing Councils under PGSOIC) was updated and offered the slot to Karnataka, which oth- the Organic Farming Association constituted from the information published in the “PGS erwise would have gone unrepresented in the the same day with the nominations from the Organic News” newsletter of PGSOIC Issue new MC. The three members from Karnataka Advisory/Steering Committees from different Two of 10 September, 2009. Copies were decided to nominate Mr. P. Babu to the MC states, was held at the Conference Hall of the distributed. in place of Mr. Kapil Shah, who had stepped Government College of Agriculture, Indore- down with the concurrence of the NSC. The list of NSC nominees (3 persons, includ- Madhya Pradesh, on 10 February, 2010 after ing 1 woman from each state that followed The MC co-opted Mr. Kumar Rajendra Singh the successful completion of the three-days the process) was circulated to all the members Rathod, an OA farmer, to represent Madhya second North India Organic Farmers’ Confer- of the NSC-1 & 2 present. The re-elected/ Pradesh and kept its option open to co-opt ence (NIOFC-2) at the same campus. nominated and new members were requested one more MC member at a later date. Most of the NSC members attended the to either tick the names of 9 persons of their The MC elected the following Office bearers: meeting, participated in the deliberations and choice or to write them afresh on the slips of Mr. Sarvdaman Patel, as President, Dr. Claude voted for the new Managing Committee to paper and put them in the ballot bag. All the Alvares, as Secretary and Mr. Jayant Barve, as ensure a smooth transition of leadership for members participated in the voting, save one Treasurer for the term 2010 to 2013. the next three years as provided in the rules state that abstained as per its wish. The votes and regulations of OFAI. were tallied in the presence of all those present The MC will meet in Gujarat on 25th June and the members who polled the highest votes 2010, to finalise the date of the 3rd Biennial All items of the agenda were deliberated and Convention which has been proposed to be were declared as under: decided. The minutes of the 10th meeting of held at Bhaikaka Krishi Kendra in Anand, NSC held on 25 July, 2009 at Bhopal were 1. Mr. Sarvdaman Patel, M.S. (Agronomy) Mehsana District of Gujarat, in December first circulated on 26 September, 2009 and USA, OA farmer, Gujarat 2010. also made available to newly elected/nomi- 2. Mr. Jayant Barve, M. Sc. Chemistry (Bom- nated members. The minutes were approved The NSC unanimously decided to nominate bay), OA farmer, Maharashtra without changes. D.D. Bharamagoudra, Mr K.P Ahairwal and 3. Dr. Claude Alvares, OA promoter, Goa Dr G.S. Kaushal as Advisors to the associa- The report of the South Asia Conference tion. (SAC) had been published in the Living Field 4. Dr. Bharatendu Prakash, Ph. D. IIT, OA Issue Ten and circulated to all OFAI members farmer, Uttar Pradesh Mr. D.D. Bharamagoudra made his farewell speech thanking all the NSC members and in October, 2009 and uploaded on the OFAI 5. Ms. Anuradha Sarang, OA promoter, Kerala website www.ofai.org. Printed copies were assuring them of his continued participation 6. Mr. Ashish Gupta, OA farmer, Himachal distributed to new members at NIOFC-2 and in OFAI activities. He warmly thanked all Pradesh & Delhi at the NSC meeting. those OFAI members who had contributed 7. Mr. P. B. Murali, OA farmer and marketing their mite towards the cost of his heart opera- It has been decided to continue the member- network, Tamil Nadu tion. He said he would be there always for the ship of IFOAM as there are strong indications Association. He thereafter handed over the 8. Mr. Kapil Shah, OA promoter, Gujarat that it is taking steps to bring organic farmers charge of the OFAI to Mr. Sarvdaman Patel, actively into its functioning. 9 Mr. Yogesh Joshi, OA farmer, Rajasthan who then conducted the proceedings and The status of PGS in OFAI member organi- Since Gujarat State had two representatives, proposed the vote of thanks. zations (MOFF, DDS, CV, KVK, INFACT, including one whom the MC had chosen as

Events calendar NIOFC-2 February 2010 KVIG-OFAI Organic Training May 2010 discussed in detail at Bhopal (M.P.). Various venues like Bhubaneshwar-Orissa, Bijnore- The 2nd NIOFC [North India Organic The KVIG-OFAI workshop on organic farming U.P, Ahmedabad-Gujarat, etc., were consid- Farming Convention] was held at Indore training will take place from May 22-24. It will ered as possible venues. on February 7-9, 2010. Delegates came be held in village Churag/Pangana in Karsog from across North India. Dr. Bharatendu Valley. The village is 4 hours from Shimla. Ra- It was finally decided to hold the event at Prakash was the principal promoter. jinder Singh (Magsaysay Awardee), Bharatendu one of the three possible venues in Gu- Prakash, Miguel Braganza from OFAI, Dr G.S. jarat, viz, Ahmedabad, Anand or Vadodara, 11th NSC Meeting February 2010 Kaushal, etc are scheduled to participate. as the previous conventions were held in Maharashtra at Wardha in 2006 and The 11th meeting of the NSC was held Dr Tej Pratap, VC of HPAU-Palanpur has con- Tiruchirapalli-Tamil Nadu in 2008. in Indore on February 10, 2010. The new firmed he will also be participating in the train- NSC was constituted for the years 2010- ing. For more information please call Ashish Responsibility for works of the convention 2013. The NSC also elected the new 9 Gupta (9810348193) or email: ashishg2dec@ is to be allotted to NSC members. An Or- member Managing Committee at the same gmail.com ganizing Committee will be appointed. Mr. meeting. Kapil Shah would identify the venue based 3rd OFAI Biennial Convention Dec on availability of facilities for accommodat- PGSOIC meeting March 2010 2010 ing about 450 delegates from other states and about 1200 delegates in all for the con- The last PGSOIC meeting for the finan- The venue, dates, theme and programme of vention. The Organizing Committee would cial year 2009-10 was held at Ranikhet, the 3rd Biennial Convention of organic farm- decide on the chairperson at each meeting. Almora District of Uttarakhand state in ers in 2010 with focus on interactive learning Mr Kapil Shah is the Convener. The meet- March 2010. The meeting was hosted by instead of presentations (as decided by the ing of the Organizing Committee will take Grassroots [PHGD] Foundation. Kalyan MC in the review of 2nd Biennial Conven- place in Gujarat on June 26, 2010. Paul and Miguel Braganza coordinated the tion at Trichy on 19 October, 2008) were event. 3 a curriculum for graduate and post graduate Second Biennial North India Organic Farming courses in organic agriculture in the State Conference (NIOFC-2) Agriculture Universities and colleges. Legume crops innoculated with Rhizobium cultures are more efficient than nitrogen fertilizer factories and cost nothing, he said. In his inaugural address, Dr. Ramkrishna Kusmaria, a rare Minister for Agriculture with a doctorate degree in Agriculture, congratu- lated the organic farmers who sustain the nation with healthy food, expecting very little in return, save remunerative prices. He complimented Dr. T.G.K. Menon, an organic farmer and promoter for receiving the “Padma Shree’ award from the President of India for his work. He complimented the organizers for making the food at NIOFC-2 organic only. “Once organic food was what we ate routine- ly; now it is a speciality,” he said calling on the delegates to help reverse the situation. Dr. Gopal Singh Kaushal, former Director of Agriculture and now the Convener of OFAI- Madhya Pradesh, proposed the vote of thanks. Dr Ramkrishna Kusumaria, Minister of Agriculture, MP Government inaugurates the Indore He stated the area under organic farming is Conference in the presence of Dr A.K. Yadav, Director (NCOF), Dr Kaushal (former Director steadily increasing and people are adopting of Agriculture, Dr Bharatendu Prakash and otehrs organic farming techniques like vermicom- posting, NADEP composting, panchagavya, The three day biennial North India Organic the Conference expenses – said it was very etc. He called upon the delegates to also pay Farming Conference (NIOFC-2) was held unfortunate that we had forsaken organic attention to creation of awareness of organic from February 7 to 9, 2010 at the Govern- farming to pursue modern agriclture. Tamil food in the consumers. ment College of Agriculture campus, Indore, Nadu had a productivity of 3 tonnes rice per Farmers in India, with a history and tradi- Madhya Pradesh. This was a follow up to the hectare under organic farming, while now the tion of several thousand years in farming first NIOFC held at the National Grasslands average production is 2.4 tonnes per hectare have evolved enormous knowledge and & Fodder Research Institute campus at Jhansi and heavily dependent on external inputs scientific practices for every agro-climatic on the border with Uttar Pradesh. like fertilizers and pesticides. Farmers have zone of the country. Not only the agronomy Participants arrived at Indore by morning shown in Maharashtra that organic farming but thousands of seeds of all kinds of cere- of 7th February 2010 and the program was can produce same quantities as conventional als, pulses, oilseeds, fruits and vegetables had inaugurated at 1-00 pm sharp by Dr. Ram- farming, and with lower external input levels. been discovered and maintained for centuries. krishna Kusmaria, Minister for Agriculture, Organic farming can assure food security. Agriculture in India had been integrated, with Madhya Pradesh. Ms. Uttara Bai, the woman Sikkim, Mizoram, Nagaland and Uttarakhand agronomy, animal husbandry, pisci-culture, nominee of Madhya Pradesh to the NSC, have Organic Farming policies. Nagaland has poultry farming and agro-forestry being parts did the invocation with a ballad on organic a vision of a fully organic state by 2015. Other of the whole system which helped the soil to farming while Dr. Bharatendu Prakash made states like Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, maintain its health for all these years. Few the formal welcome speech. The Government Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh are also decades of ‘modern agriculture’ has led to a College of Agriculture was specially chosen as developing their organic farming policy docu- loss of many of these systems that conserved the venue as it was here that Sir Albert How- ments. There is a need to set up an office in biodiversity while providing food for the ard validated and documented the “Indore Delhi to lobby for central policies to promote people. The presence of dense forests around Method” of composting that laid the founda- organic farming. PGS must be promoted to villages had given the soils sufficient organic tion of Organic Farming documentation and provide low-cost labeling for organic produce matter and maintained the rain-pattern which promotion. in domestic market. It is the need of the has now been upset because of society’s greed hour in India. Dr. Yadav complimented Dr. Dr. Claude Alvares, Director of OFAI, con- and environmental imbalances created by ill- Ramkrishna Kusmaria for promoting organic planning. trasted the environment at NIOFC-2 with farming in Madhya Pradesh. that of the “National Consultation on Bt The ‘Green Revolution’ backed by applica- Brinjal” at Bangalore that he had attended Dr. Vinodlal Shroff, former Dean of Agricul- tion of chemicals as fertilizers and insecticides on the previous day. Organic farmers were ture, stated that there was a need to develop or other pesticides and introduction of heavy pitched against the promoters of Genetically Modified crops in Bangalore. Organic agriculture was at risk due to accidental or unin- tended contamination with GM, prohibited in organic agriculture world-wide.There were placards, protests and shouting at Bangalore. In Indore, the organic farmers were at peace and looking for a common Way Forward. Sir Albert Howard had written thus in his book, “I came to teach organic farming but ended up learning from the farmers of Indore.” The book is published in English by Other India Press and its Hindi translation by Mr. Arun Dike of Indore is ready for release. Dr. Ashok K. Yadav, Director of National Centre of Organic Farming, Govt. of In- Subhash Shasrma addresses the Indore Conference dia – which financially supported part of 4 farm machineries, destroyed natural health of soils and the atmosphere, polluted water and OFAI Kerala Activities affected the other life forms, both macro and micro organisms, dependent on agricultural systems. The mono-cropping and use of hy- brid seeds changed the whole cropping pattern which turned farming into losing economic activity and affected health of people as well as all living beings on earth. It is time to do stock-taking and NIOFCs held in alternation with the Biennial Conventions of OFAI are aimed at achieving this through a democratic process of sharing farmer experiences and dis- cussing them to find the best Way Forward. The report on International Assessment of Agricultural knowledge, Science & Technol- ogy for Development (IAASTD) in very plain terms has given basic three suggestions: 1.Science must help farmers to use resources more efficiently. 2.Science must complement local knowledge and support sustainable farming. Issues like subsidies, markets, access Kerala INFACT and OFAI stall at the Kerala Organic Fair to land and knowhow must take the neces- sities of small holder farmers into account. On 15th January, 2010 the OFAI Kerala Chapter, chaired the meeting. He explained 3.The true agriculture production costs should meeting decided to conduct a get together the context of the meeting. Mr.Jose Sebastain show in prices. Farmers are not paid for their of Kerala OFAI members along with the 5th and Mr.Johny Mathew OFAI NSC members investments in maintaining soil quality or Organic Fair at Cochin. participated in this get together.The meet- biodiversity which needs to be enriched for The 5th Organic Fair was organised by the ing evaluated the functioning of OFAI and health and food-security of world-community. Organic Kerala Charitable Trust in association decided the following points: The above demands that farming, not only in with likeminded groups and organisations. Membership status of the farmers: Contact the India but everywhere, should be transformed From the very beginning, the OFAI Kerala Central Secretariat to know the membership into organic and natural process, based on Chapter is closely associated with this event. status of the farmers who sent the application traditional knowledge enriched with resource This year the Fair was organised from 16th of and fee for OFAI membership from Calicut conservational researches. April to 19th of April 2010. The Fair was inau- and Idukki. All of them were interested to join The sessions during the conference included gurated by the Honorable Agriculture Minis- in PGS group. the following: ter of Kerala, Mr. Mullakkara Rathnakaran. Can we initiate the process to get them into Experience sharing of farmers from all over Speakers from different areas shared their PGS? India; views on the promotion of Organic Farming 1. Get the green signal from Central Secre- Traditional knowledge of soil management; and the marketing of it’s products. tariat to proceed with the new PGS Group formation. The conservation pattern of resources and its There was a Seminar on “Food Sovereignty sharing; Challenges of Kerala.” Mr. Rony Joseph of 2. Each OFAI member must identify genu- INFACT did a presentation in the seminar on ine organic farmers from their districts and The rediscovered techniques of Panchaga- “Local Seeds and their Role in Food Sover- move fast to form PGS Local Groups in their vya, Amrut-Pani, Amrut-Mitti, Sanjivak and eignty. respective districts. They must also study the bio-dynamic preparations, bullock operated possibilities of market the organic farm prod- implements, etc. On 18th of April there was a get together of organic farmers. Mr.Johny Mathew, the ucts locally under the PGS label. Organic life-style involving Yoga, Agnihotra OFAI NSC member from Kerala, was the key 3. Since the Govt.of Kerala is planning to and Natural foods, and speaker at this get together. publish the final draft of the Organic Farm- Policy changes needed to make rural India Alongwith with the Fair, a three day camp for ing Policy on 9th of May 2010, we must make strong and productive. children was also conducted. necessary steps to include the recognition Encouragement of urban consumers to link of PGS groups in the Organic Policy of the Farmers’ groups from different parts of Kerala Government. with organic producers directly avoiding participated in the Fair and exhibited their middle way pilferage. farm products. In this context the meeting decided to send a PGS memorandum to the Chief Minister of Kerala Under the Banner of OFAI a stall was a stall for including the PGS into the new policy. Mr. Joy Daniel and five PGS farmer mem- which contained the farm products of OFAI The participants requested the Central secre- bers from Maharashtra spoke to the farmers members was set up and did good sales. Ear- tariat/PGS Organic India Council to submit a about PGS at the NIOFC-2. Dr. Bharatendu lier, the State Secretariat had informed all the memorandum to the Chief Minister of Kerala Prakash, Director of OFAI Regional Secre- OFAI members about the Fair and collected for including the PGS into the new policy. tariat for North India and Miguel Braganza, their farm products for the exhibition. Additional Director of OFAI Central Secre- Mr. Raju Joseph, one of the OFAI members, Seeds and seedlings of vegetables and medici- suggested to conduct a training programme tariat, also spoke on the subject. PGS has been nal plants, variety products from jack fruit, specifically mentioned in the draft Organic on profitable organic vegetable cultivation. papaya, banana, chilimppy, tapioca etc., spices, He shared about the meeting with Mr. Farming Policy of Madhya Pradesh prepared handicraft items from coconut wood and by an Empowered Committee of the Govern- Shishir Kumar Pariya (407 – Metro Home, shell as well as juices from ginger-lemon and damana Chauk, Bhuvaneshwar 751016 ment headed by Dr. Ramkrishna Kusmaria nutmeg etc., were demonstrated. A leaflet on (Ph. D. in Agri Economics) and Minister for Mob:09439387735) from Orissa during the ‘Preventing pests through Organic Methods’ SAC at Bangalore. Agriculture. was also distributed. It was decided to conduct OFAI member’s Kerala OFAI member’s get-together: get-together from the next year onwards in The get-together started with a silent prayer. one of the OFAI member’s farm. Mr. Rajan Nair, the convener of OFAI Kerala 5 PGS-OIC Meeting at Ranikhet – Uttarakhand

the Bill to the Governor for his assent. This was announced on 10 September, 2009, by the Government and made public at the SAC in Bangalore to thunderous applause by farmer delegates and agriculture graduates alike. 9. Contact with other PGS-linked organizations. As authorized by the PGSOIC at the last meeting, the Secretary has had interac- tions with MUSE Spiti Ecosphere-Himachal Pradesh , AVANI- Kumaon-Uttarakhand and the Society for Elimination of Ruaral Poverty (SERP)-Andhra Pradesh. MUSE is working in the trans-Himalayan area near Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh where the people harvest Seabuckthorn in Spiti valley for hu- man use. Eco-tourism in summer, solar energy to save forests by reduction of dependence on fuel wood and guidance on PGS –Wild/ PGS-OIC meeting in progress at Ranikhet Natural are areas of interest that it shares with A meeting of the PGS Organic India Coun- 44 LGs under the aegis of OFAI. In October, AVANI, representated, Ms. Rashmi Bharti. cil was held on 11 & 12, March, 2010, at 2009 MOFF agreed to function as an inde- The PGS website is a great gateway to con- UMANG, Grassroots, Ranikhet, Uttarakhand pendent OFC and was allotted a new OFC nect with other PGS promoters in India and state. The President of the PGSOIC elected on Code of D 01 . Certificates for LGs MH D01 rest of the world. It is hoped that PGS will be 02 June, 2009 at FireFlies, Bangalore, Mr. Joy 049 to 055 have since been issued to MOFF centre stage at Organic World Congress 2011 Daniel, chaired the meeting. directly by the PGSOIC Central Secretariat. in Seoul-Korea through the good offices of the The institutional member-representatives of 3. Memorandum of Association, Byelaws and Inter-continental Network of Organic Farm- PGS-OFCs in PGSOIC present were: 1. Joy Registration of PGSOIC: ers’ Organizations (INOFO) Daniel – Institute for Integrated Rural Devel- The Constitution [Memorandum of Associa- The eligibility criteria for an organization to opment (IIRD), Maharashtra, President; 2. tion and Rules & Regulations] of the PG- be a PGSOFC are: Miguel Braganza – Organic Farming Asso- SOIC drafted at the meeting at Fire Flies- 1. Membership to be proposed by 2 OFCS ciation of India (OFAI), Goa, Secretary; 3. Bangalore in June, 2009, and discussed at the (Application Form to be filled by applicant.) Mathew John – Keystone Foundation (Key- meeting at Timbaktu Collective in August, stone), Tamil Nadu, Treasurer 4. C.K. Gangu- 2. Visit by PGSOIC representatives to the Ap- 2009, was discussed among the Executive plicant organization. ly and Sannappa – Timbaktu Collective (TC), Committee members and changes were made Andhra Pradesh; 5. Ms Niranjana Maru, where felt necessary. 3. Ratification by PGSOIC at meeting or by Chetana Vikas, Maharashtra; 6. Ms. Y.V. N. email. Lakshmi and Suresh Kumar – representing Dr. 4. Status of PGS Local Groups: Mr. C.K Ganguly aka Bablu stated that PGS P.V. Satheesh of Deccan Development Society, There has been a significant growth in the is based on trust and a value system. Some Andhra Pradesh; 7. Thachinamurthy – The number of Local Groups in each PGS-OFC proforma can be prepared to be filled by the Covenant Centre for Development (CCD), from August, 2009 to February, 2010. There applicant and countersigned by an existing Tamilnadu; 8. Kalyan Paul – Pan Himalayan are now 381Local Groups with 4547 organic PGSOIC member. Grassroots Development Foundation, Ran- farm families participating in PGS across 11 ikhet. Permanent invitee 9. Ajay Rastogi – states of the Indian Union. Criteria for PGS Wild/Natural and Processed Consultant from Ranikhet, Uttarakhand, and fruits/fibre: The Guidelines for wild harvest 5. Release of the PGS newsletter “OR- have been prepared and printed by Key- invitees 10. Anita Paul, – UMANG Women’s GANIC News” Vol. l No. 2. Was done at the Cooperative, Mallika-Ranikhet and 11. Farmer stone Foundation. In Uttarakhand, Soap nut hands of the Vice Chancellor of University of (Sapindus sp) and Amla (Emblica sp) trees are representatives from Umang/Grassroots, Agricultural Sciences, Dr. P.G. Chengappa, at IIRD, TC /Dharani and DDS for part of the stamped by state dept. of horticulture. CCD the South Asia Conference on “Outstanding does collection of wild fruit like Wood Apple, opening session. Prof. Trilochan Shastry-IIM Organic Agriculture Techniques” at GKVK, – Bangalore as well as Sanjay Joshi, Manju Aegle marmellos. Honey of rock bees Apis Bangalore on 10 September, 2009, in the pres- dorsata in Indonesia is being certified as “Or- Pande and Sunita of Umang/Grassroots at- ence of delagates from India, Nepal, Bhutan, tended. ganic” through TPS. Feed back from PGSOIC Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, China, Malaysia, members to Sneh’s draft on PGS-Wild stan- Action Taken Report [ATR] on the min- Ehtiopia, Australia and Unuted Kingdom. dards has come only from few. utes of the previous meeting held at Tim- 6. Registration of PGSOIC logo for multi- Fabrics [Organic Cotton, Tasar silk, etc] and baktu Collective, Chennakothapally, Andhra commodity trade. Pradesh, included non–food processed item as well us FPO items The registration of the logo will be done by need protocols. Responses for procedure fro 1. Activation of new PGS-OFC: The office the PGSOIC to own the logo and to permit fibre processed into cloth needed. CCD can bearers of PGSOIC visited the Local Groups its member organizations to use it. add to the information from its experience. set up under GREEN Foundation in Kar- 7. Requirements of Packaged Commodities AVANI is interested in wild silk like Tasar, Eri nataka and border district of Tamil Nadu, and Muga silk. This range and market of PGS interacted with the farmers and staff of the Act , organic ingredients for processing. Mr. Ajay Rastogi agreed to collate the information Wild may be bigger than PGS for cultivated PGS-OFC and guided on the way forward. produce. Four LGs have since been registered under and make it available to the PGSOIC mem- GREEN Foundation. bers. A link of the PGSOFCS to the end–user of 8. Tamil Nadu Agricultural Council Act, PGS Organic logo could be through a Memo- 2 Eligibility Criteria for PGS-OFCs: The randum of Understanding or some agreement. new criteria for eligibility to be a PGS-OFC 2009: Bowing to the strong protests from were applied in the case of Maharashtra Or- farmer groups, VOs and NGOs, the Tamil (Prepared by: Miguel Braganza, Secretary ganic Farming Federation [MOFF], which had Nadu Government has decided not to send PGSOIC, Goa) 6 List of NSC Members OFAI Representations New OFAI Projects

1) Dr. Claude Alvares (Goa) The Central Secretariat of OFAI has filed The NSC of OFAI has approved the idea of Cell: - 9552995186, Email: [email protected] numerous representations with the Ministry the following new projects that will be taken of Environment & Forests on behalf of the up shortly by the Central Secretariat: 2. Ms Yogita Mehra (Goa) Association. OFAI Project Proposal on Carbon Seques- Ph.: 0832 2451823, Cell: 9960643245, The first detailed representation was in con- tration Email: [email protected] nection with the proposed introduction of Organic farming, or farming the natural way, 3) Shri. Sarvdaman Patel (Gujarat) genetically engineered Bt brinjal. The associa- comes on top of the list of CO2 sequestration Ph.: 02692 281664, Cell: 09825045730, tion filed detailed submissions opposing the projects that will be beneficial for the people Email: [email protected] introduction (the submission can be accessed and the ecosystem together. Since organic from www.ofai.org). 4) Smt. Ramaben (Gujarat) farmers use biomass like cow-dung and farm Ph:02622-220095 / 220258, Cell: 09377774764 A large number of association members par- residues that are also rich sources of carbon, ticipated actively in the seven consultations naturally their soil will store more organic 5) Shri Kapil Shah (Gujarat) that were held on the issue. Thanks to the carbon. Even though conventional farms also Ph: 0265 2371429, 2371880, 2372593, Mob:- arguments against the proposal, the Environ- use biomass, introduction of chemical fertil- 09427054132, Email: [email protected], ment Minister Jairam Ramesh suspended the izers and pesticides disturbs the soil microbes 6) Mr. B.K.Naganna (Karnataka) move to introduce the genetically modified that digest the carbon contained in the vegetable. biomass. Several studies conducted in Europe Cell: 9900434747 That battle is over but the war against geneti- and North America reveal that organic farms 7) Mr. Ragava (Karnataka) cally engineered food still looms large on the remove CO2 from the air and store it in soil Cell: 94489 23773 horizon and will keep the association and its as soil organic carbon (SOC). According to 8) Mr. Babu. P (Karnataka) members on its toes well into the future. one estimate, soils under eco-friendly farm practices can sequester 14% of the current an- Ph: 080-25283370 / 080-25213104, The Association has also submitted a detailed nual CO2 emission. Email:[email protected],[email protected] list of amendments to the GMO Rules that However, the United Nations Framework 9) Shri. Johny Mathew (Kerala) were issued in 1989. The Association has drawn the attention of the Ministry to the Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) Phone: 04828 286138, Mob: 09447086138, fact that while several other rules issued in the has not recognized soil carbon sequestration as Email: [email protected] same year have been modified and amended eligible under the Kyoto protocol. 10) Ms Anuradha Sarang (Kerala) several times, the GMO Rules have not been For years, the organic farmers have been Ph: 04924 209038, Cell: 09447114482, amended and made relevant to our times. removing CO2 from the atmosphere, besides Email: [email protected] For example, the 1989 Rules are not in har- providing safe food to the consumers and 11) Mr Jose Sebastian (Kerala) mony with the provisions for biosafety drawn maintaining the soil health. They have not up as part of the Cartegena Protocol. been compensated for the eco-system services Email: [email protected] rendered by them. This should be facilitated 12) Shri. Jayant Barve (Maharashtra) The Association has made detailed suggestions. under the protocols of either verified emis- Copy of the amendments proposed by the sion reduction, a private initiative or certified Ph: - 02347 272141, Mob: 09422615878, Association can be accessed from its website. Email: [email protected] emission reduction of UNFCC. This payment Copies can also be requested from the OFAI will also help the victims of chemical farming 13) Mr. P.B. Murali (Tamilnadu) office at Goa. to revert to organic practices. This pilot study Ph No.: 044 24991203, H/Ph No.: 9380691203, The Association has also filed detailed objec- aims at quantifying the soil carbon gain in E-mail: [email protected] tions against the Biotechnology Regulatory organic farms in comparison to conventional Email: [email protected] Authority of India (BRAI) Bill now pending farms in India. 14) Mr. M. Sethuraman (Tamilnadu) in Parliament. Copy of these objections to the OFAI now proposes to measure soil carbon Ph:04364236467 Cell:9952844467 provisions of the Act are also posted on the sequestration on the farms of its members. website of the association. 15) Mrs.A. Kalaivani (Tamilnadu) There will be 25 pairs of organic and non- organic farms selected for the study. Both Cell: 9865485221 the farms in the pairs will be from the same 16) Shri. Bharatendu Prakash (UP) Attention All OFAI micro-region, preferably the same village. The Mob: 09452508251, Members crop will also preferably be similar in nature. Email: [email protected] Soil samples will be collected before the prepa- ration of land and after the harvest. 17) Mr K.K.Bhartiya (UP) All individual members of OFAI The study team will include V.T. Padma- Phone: 05192-220299, Cell: 09839625828 who have not yet renewed their membership are requested to nabhan as principal investigator on behalf of 18) Ms. Uttarabai Thakur (MP) deposit their annual fees @Rs.100 OFAI. He will be assisted by Miguel Braganza, Cell: 09589660304, 09893472103 only in favour of “Organic Farm- Addl. Director, OFAI, who is a professionally 19) Mr. Ajit Sharad Kelkar (MP) ing Association of India” payable trained agricultural scientist. Ph: 0731-2493613, Cell: 09424877363, in SB A/c No.180010100029917 OFAI will provide practical assistance in Email: [email protected] at Mapusa-Goa branch of AXIS identification of organic and chemical farms and regions for the said study. OFAI will use 20) Mr Kr. Rajendra Singh Rathod (MP) Bank. Do not forget to intimate OFAI-Central Secretariat by email its own staff at the State level and train them Cell: 09754490525 in the methods of collection of samples and to [email protected] or call 21) Mr. Ashish Gupta (Delhi/HP) their packaging and despatch to the laboratory Reshma on 0832-2255913 during selected to carry out the sampling. Cell: 9810348193, normal office hours. The expenses Email: [email protected] in printing and postiung The Living The project which will commence in May 2010 will conclude in six months. 22) Mr Yogesh Joshi (Rajasthan) Field are quite heavy and we would Ph: 02979-224526, Cell: 09950489820, appreciate some support in the All OFAI members who wish to participate Email: [email protected] form of renewed membership or in the study should contact the OFAI central secretariat by phone or email. 23) Mr A Satishkumar (Youth rep from TN) donations. Thank you! Cell:09842651456 7 Organic Farming News

Organic growth for organic farming ICC launches organic farming sensiti- Europe, it laid stress on research and development activities to make the products acceptable The National Centre for Organic Farming sation in NE to those buyers. (NCOF), an undertaking of the Union min- The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) istry of agriculture, plans to take the total cul- Northeast Chapter has launched initiatives to Non-GM Breakthroughs Leave GM tivated area under organic crops to 15 million boost organic farming in Northeastern states Behind hectares by the end of 2010, making it a little in collaboration with the Agricultural and GM Watch: http://www.gmwatch.org over 1% of the total area under the plough in Processed Food Products Export Development Does the mention of allergen-free peanut, salt- India. At present, 12 lakh hectares of cultivated Authority (APEDA). resistant wheat, beta-carotene rich sweet potato, land is covered under this practice of farming, ICC officials here today said since organic and virus-resistant cassava make you think of apart from some 90 lakh hectares of minor farming had become a major thrust area in ag- GM? Think again. These are the conventional forest areas, said the centre’s director Dr A K riculture in Northeast for its huge reserves of solutions of the year 2007. While GM ‘miracle’ Yadav. Dr Yadav was addressing a meeting on biotic resources, they had been trying to sen- stories get vast coverage in the media, the non- organic farming at the Vidarbha Industries As- sitise the farmers for commercial farming of GM stories are seldom reported. Without the sociation (VIA). organic agricultural products. Organic farming GM lobby’s exaggerated narratives and instant During 2003-4, the total area under cultivation was seeing unprecedented activity in Northeast solutions, there seems to be no story worth stood at around 42,000 hectares, whereas wild by default and it had tremendous potential publishing. The biotech industry and its PR growth of produce from forests stood at only of progress in the segment, ICC officials said, people, of course, are keen to keep it that way; 10 lakh hectares. The three major organic crops adding Assam had emphasised on cultivation particularly as the non-GM solutions are often remain tea, honey and cotton, while growing of Joha Rice for export. The Centre lined up way ahead of the work on GM. The uncertain- medicinal plants is a new emerging area, said a massive investment of Rs 366 crore to boost ties over environmental and health hazards that Yadav. production and export of 53 organic products, surround GM also do not appear in print. including fruits and vegetables, spices and The exports of organic farming during the last nuts, besides commercial crops in 23 states, Many organic successes including the return year stand at Rs 561 crore as against Rs 450 including eight in Northeastern region, within to organic cotton to avoid the Bt cotton trap, crore in the year before, said Yadav. 2012. FAO’s initiatives to promote Organic Agricul- The organic farming sector fared well despite ture to feed the world abound but do not find The Union Ministry of Commerce was also mainstream media space. Although drought- the economic slowdown by clocking a substan- working to promote export of the agricultural tial growth of 12%. Yadav said. He added that prone Zambia is still facing problems, huge and processed food products of Northeastern improvements have been reported in its maize though the average growth tally remained at states through APEDA. 18%, the performance was much better than harvests, its main staple crop. Production is other sectors. APEDA was asked to export indigenous variet- reported to have changed dramatically when ies of rice - Komal Chawal, Bora Chawal, Bao President Levy Mwanawasa promoted innova- Regarding the situation in Vidarbha, Yadav Chawal (red rice), Joha and black rice - pro- tions such as mixed farming and conservation said the region indeed has good scope for duced with organic farming methods to the farming after he took over from Frederick Chi- organic farming, as it was from the farmers of foreign markets, which had export potential, luba in 2001. Mwanawasa rejected GM maize this region that he learnt a lot during his initial officials added. The APEDA has been trying and encouraged the growing of non-GM maize, period at the centre. to explore the organic products in the major resulting in bumper harvests for the past three markets at international level but consider- years. Ironically, when the Zambian govern- ing the perceptible sensitivity of the buyers in ment rejected GM maize in 2002, there were developed countries like the US and Western calls from the US Ambassador to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization for its lead- New Organic Farming Sourcebook ers to be tried “for the highest crimes against humanity in the highest courts of the world”. Non-GM crop science gets 13 million pound The Organic Farming Sourcebook is sterling boost in the UK written and edited by Claude Alvares UK crop scientists have been awarded a 13.3 m with the assistance of Nyla Coelho. The Pounds in funding to carry out research aimed book contains almost everything con- at delivering benefits for farmers and consum- nected with organic farming in India, ers. Researchers say they will not be produc- including a vast directory of organic ing GM crops. Prof. David Pink at University of Warwick, Coventry, whose team has been farmers. Packed with pictures, the book awarded GBP500 000 to identify genes in broc- now includes new chapters on GM coli that will extend its shelf life and maintain seeds, farm animals, especially indig- its nutritional value longer, said, “We are not enous cows, and a comprehensive list going down that (GM) route because GM is of green or organic stores from all the not acceptable at the moment, and not accept- different states. able to our plant breeding partner.” Members of OFAI have the good Indigenous rice is better than GM-rice at fortune of ordering the book for Rs.350 dealing with stress (including post and packaging free). Navdanya, a New Delhi-based NGO headed Please contact the Central Secretariat by Vandana Shiva, together with farmers from Pp.460 Rs.500 (post and packing free) for your copy. You will have to quote nine Indian states, has developed a register of your OFAI ID number. DD/Cheque For your copy call 0832-2255913 (Resh- over 2 000 indigenous rice varieties. Several may be drawn in favour of “The Other ma) or email: [email protected] or indigenous rice strains adopted by the Indian India Bookstore”, payable at Mapusa, simply write a postcard to: farmers can withstand extremes of climatic Goa. conditions, survive submergence for a fortnight OFAI Central Secretariat, G-8 St Britto’s and even withstand salinity with great success . Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa 403507 Goa. 8 OFAI Central Secretariat G-8 St.Britto’s Apartments Feira Alta, Mapusa, Bardez The Organic Farming Association of Goa - 403 507 India Ph: 91 832 2255913; fax: 2263305 (A society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860) Mob: +91 9326115907 Registered address: Email: [email protected] G-8, St Britto’s Apartments, Feira Alta, Mapusa 403 507 Goa, India Tel.: 91-832-2255913. Tel./fax: 91-832-2263305 North India Secretariat Email: [email protected] Web: www.ofai.org Kissan Vikas Kendra (KVK) Tindwari (Banda) Uttar Pradesh-210-128 Membership form of the Association Ph: 05192 233936, 292010 (This form may also be filled, signed, scanned and emailed) Mob: +91 9452508251, +91 9425814405 Email: [email protected]

Andhra Pradesh I, , aged Deccan Development Society (DDS) male/female, desire to become a member of the Organic Farming Association of India. My #101, Kishan Residency, membership fee is enclosed herewith. Street No. 5, Begumpet My complete and correct address (with phone and email data, if available) is provided below: Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh-500 016 Ph: 040 27764577, 27764744 Email: [email protected]

Maharashtra Maharashtra Organic Farming Federation 1038/11,Balaji Niwas,Flat No:5, Cosmos Bank Lane,Deep Banglow chowk, I would qualify to be a member of the Association under one of the following categories Model Colony,Pune,Maharashtra-411 016 Ph: 020) 25659090 / 32907302 (please underline the chosen category): Mob: +91 9881497092 / 9822060606 a) Organic Farmer Email: [email protected] b) Company/Society/Trust involved in organic food production c) Green Shop (applicable only to shops marketing organic produce) Kerala d) Green Trader (also includes suppliers of organic farming inputs) Information for Action (INFACT) e) Organic Farming Promoter Kizhathadiyoor PO, f) Organic Consumer Pala, Kottayam, Kerala-686 574 Ph: 04822 211997 / 211689 Mob: +91 9447285525 Email: [email protected] Name and signature of applicant Punjab & Haryana Kheti Virasat Mission (KVM) Details for applicants: Street – 5, Dharamveer Sadan, Membership fees as per bye-laws of the association: Hardayal Nagar, JAITU Dist-Faridkot, Punjab-151 202 Individuals: Rs.100 per year. Non-profit organizations: Rs.1,000 per year. Companies and Ph: 01635-503415, 230415; partnerships: Rs.5,000 per year. This amount can be sent by DD or MO or deposited directly Mob: +91 98726-82161 in favour of “Organic Farming Association of India” at any UTI/AXIS bank branch anywhere Email: [email protected] in the country in account No:180010100029917 Mapusa branch, Goa State, and intimation given to OFA-CS, Goa. Tamil Nadu All members are entitled to free issues of either The Living Field or Shyashaya Shamala OFAI-Tamilnadu newsletters. C/o Balasubramanian (Please note: Since OFAI state secretariats are managed by NGOs, membership may be required to be paid in the name of the NGO 15/B Pioneer Colony, concerned and not OFAI. Receipt may also be given by the concerned organization. However, the applicant will get a membership Tirumangalam certificate from OFAI, after the fee is transmitted to the central secretariat of the organization by the state secretariat concerned.) Madurai - 625 706 Tamil Nadu. Ph: 9842048317 Delhi and Himachal Pradesh Gujarat email: [email protected] c/o Ashish Gupta Jatan Trust Vinoba Ashram, Madhya Pradesh Rohini, Delhi 110085 Cell: 9810348193, “Gotri”, Vadodara Bundelkhand Resource Centre Email: [email protected] Gujarat-390 021 Chhatarpur, M.P. Ph: 0265 2371429, 2371880,2372593 all telefax Mobile: +91 9425814405 Karnataka Mob: +91 9427054132 email: [email protected] Institute for Cultural Research & Action Email: [email protected] (ICRA) Orissa # 22, `Samskruthi’, Michael Palya, Living Farms New Thippasandra P.O The Living Field is printed and published by Plot No.1181 / 2146, Bangalore, Karnataka-560-075 OFAI for private circulation to OFAI mem- Ratnakarbag-2,Tankapani Road, Ph: 080-25283370 / 080-25213104 bers. Bhubaneswar, Orissa-751 018 Email: [email protected] Editor: Claude Alvares Ph: 0674 2430176, Mob: +91 9938582616 [email protected] Email: [email protected]