Hafed to encourage organic farrming in Haryana

Chandigarh, Nov 23 (UNI) Haryana State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation (Hafed) has decided to provide best technical inputs to about 1,000 farmers of the state to encourage them to adopt the cultivation of organic crops.

To begin with, this ambitious project of Hafed will bring about 5,000 acres of land for cultivation of organic products.

Stating this here today, a Hafed spokesman said the federation had planned a holistic approach for promotion of organic farming in Haryana.

The technical inputs which would be provided by Hafed to the farmers for organic farming included trainings and farm level advisory services as per international standards of organic farming.

He said organic certification as per international standards would be given to facilitate domestic and export market for the output.

An APEDA approved internationally reputed organic certification agency had been appointed for certification purpose.

Similarly, for providing services to the farmer, Hafed had tied up with a reputed NGO having nationwide presence and widespread experience on state level organic farming projects.

Marketing tie-ups for the output of organic produce were being done with an aim of providing maximum benefit to farmers.

He said all expenditure on farmer services, certification procedures and consultancy would be borne by Hafed.

He said the demand of Organic Certified consumer products had been rising in most of the countries and progressive farmers were taking advantage of the same.

However, many small and marginal farmers, though desirable of adopting organic crops were held back due to lack of technological awareness, high cost of certification, unavailability of ready market and risk involved in the cultivation of organic crops due to it being a new field, he added.

UNI