Prospects, status and marketing of organic products in India-A Review

Organic farm production and trade has emerged as an important sector in the world in general and India in particulars, and is seen as an important strategy of facilitating sustainable development. The organic management area in India is increased by about 26 folds in last seven years. The top organically managed commodities produced are cotton, cereals, rice, pulses, fruits and vegetables, tea, oilseeds, coffees etc. The Madhya Pradesh stood first (2.86 million ha) in organic farming registered area (including wild area) in 2010-11, while Gujarat ranked eighth. The export market for organic food in India is valued at Rs. 1,866 crores includes basmati rice, pulses, tea, coffee, spices and oil seeds; and is growing at compound annual growth rate of 49% in last four years ending 2011-12.The volume of organic products export was 1,47,800 metric tonnes during 2011-12. This paper locates the prospects, status and marketing of organic farming and documents the Indian experience in organic production and trade.