In an effort to encourage people to take up organic farming in a big way in every hobli, the State government, has planned to set aside 100 acres in each hobli for the purpose.
Launching the Karnataka State Organic Certification Agency (KSOCA) here, on Thursday, Minister for Agriculture Krishna Byre Gowda, who also commissioned certain services for organic farming, said, “We plan to promote and encourage organic farming.
The Department of Agriculture has sanctioned Rs 45 crore, apart from Rs 25 crore from the Department of Horticulture and Rs 12 crore under the National Agricultural Development Programme,” Byre Gowda said, adding that “there is plenty of demand for organic food but it lacks quality packing here. We need to emphasise on good packing and marketing.”
Around 35 Hopcom outlets will sell organic foods and organic melas will be held in seven city corporations in the State. “People need to avoid using chemicals for good organic crops and Karnataka Organic Society should work towards it,” he said.
“There are 3,000 organic associations in the State. Organic farming will be encouraged through them,” said Department of Agriculture Principal Secretary Bharat Lal Meena.
KSOCA will provide organic certification services with affordable fee structures as per National (NPOP) and international standards (NOP) to organic farms (individual), group of organic farmers (ICS), organic product processing, organic product traders, organic wild collection and organic input approval.
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