Four-day IOTF 2007 kicks off

New Delhi, Nov 29 (UNI) Over 250 Indian and foreign Organic Agri businesses were showcasing their products at the four-day-long India Organic Trade Fair 2007 to showcase the achievements of Indian farmers groups in the field of organic farming.

The mega fair was being organised by the International Competence Centre for Organic Agriculture (ICCOA) in association with National Centre of Organic Farming, Ministry of Agriculture, APEDA and FIBL and the Researcyh Institute for Organic Agriculture, Switzerland.

The trade fair, being held for the first time in Delhi after the success of two previous fairs in Bangalore in 2005 and 2006, was part of ICCOA's mission of developing competence in organic agriculture and agribusiness in India and South Asia.

The fair provided a platform to various stake holders to exchange information of recent developments, achievements, trends and research results in the organic sector while providing opportunity to the entrepreneurs eager to enter into organic trade or to source organic products.

The Green Revolution that started in the 1960s introduced high input farming all over India. In many regions, the Revolution initially increased yields but at a high cost. In the long run, it had caused erosion, severe water pollution and ground water depletion, according to Mr Manoj Kumar Menon, Executive Director, ICCOA.

Organic farming cannot only contribute in soil and water conservation but also help the citizen in maintaining a healthy life as it avoided or largely excluded the use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, plant growth regulators and livestock feed additives. As far as possible, organic farmers rely on crop rotation, crop residues, animal manures and mechanical cultivation to maintain soil productivity and to supply plant nutrients, and to control weeds, insects and other pests, Mr Menon said.

The fair, IOTF 2007, was inaugurated by Mr Bhupinder Singh Johal, President, ICCOA, and Mr Sompal, former Chairman, National Commission on Farmers and Member Planning Commission.

Union Minister of Women and Child Development Renuka Chaauidhary was the guest of honour at the occasion.

UNI