Market study on organic products by federation

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, June 20, 2016: It is reported that the new ’Federation of Organic Growers’ in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Chikkamagaluru will conduct a survey on the demand for specific organic products in the three districts and the scope for production.

Prabhakara Mayya of Dakshina Kannada and Anilraj D.M. of Chikkamagaluru had been elected president and vice-president of the federation, respectively. The federation is among 14 such federations formed in the State recently on the lines of milk unions under the Karnataka Milk Federation. The government organised an orientation workshop for the presidents and vice-presidents all 14 federations in Bengaluru. .

 Mayya, who attended the workshop, stated that the government had asked the federations to prepare a detailed project report within a month on the crops that could be grown in jurisdictions keeping the demand from consumers in mind. It would serve as a road map to take up future activities.

He also mentioned that there was enough demand for organically grown boiled rice, wheat and ragi in cities and towns. Organically grown vegetables and fruits were also in great demand. The federation would identify such products before chalking out a road map.  The federation could sell boiled rice or ragi under its own brand name to capture the market. It could market organic products in demand in the three districts by procuring them from other organic federations in the State. The “give and take” of products within federations are permitted.

The Karnataka State Organic Certification Agency was in the process of inspecting and certifying 6,240 hectares of farm land owned by 4,512 farmers, under the federation, in the three districts. The inspection process for use of chemicals and chemical fertilizer involved three years. Currently the second year’s inspection was under progress.

The inspection would be over by March 2017. The federation could take up its brand building and marketing of the products only after a year.