Organic Agriculture is a system of farm design and management to create an ecosystem, which can achieve sustainable productivity without use of artificial external inputs such as chemicals, fertilizers and pesticides. It minimizes environmental pollution, improves soil fertility and reduces soil erosion. It is a system that excludes use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
Organic Certification is a certification procedure by which the certification body assures that the agricultural production system or processing system of the operator has been methodically assessed and conforms to the specified requirements under National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP). “Certified Organic” products are those which have been produced, processed, handled and marketed in accordance with National Standards for Organic production.
The conversion period for annual and biennial crops, plant products is two years and for perennial plants is three years of organic management. However, certification body may extend or reduce conversion period of any farm depending on the past status/use of land and environmental conditions.
Parallel production means any production where the same unit is growing, breeding, handling or processing the same products both in a certified organic and a non-certified organic. Similarly a situation with Organic and in conversion production of the same product is also parallel production.
Grower groups are organized group of farmers who intend to produce organic products/engage in organic processes in accordance with the National Standards for Organic production. The grower group shall consist of minimum 25 and maximum 500 farmers.
The producers in the group must apply similar production systems and the farms should be in geographical proximity. Certification shall be granted to the group with reference to the standards adopted and based on Internal Control System (ICS).
A certificate issued by the accredited Certification Body to its operator annually for their specific activity in terms of production, processing and trading.
A certificate issued by the accredited Certification Body to its operator for every sale of his/her product to the buyer.