Pesticides have been in use in agriculture since Second World War and from the very beginning there have been concerns about the commercialization of chemical pesticides. Rachel Carson's, "Silent Spring" published in 1964 brought out the scientific certainties of the impacts of pesticides on environment. Although DDT was banned in the developed world in the 1970's, and its use in the agriculture fields of developing countries later, varieties of toxic pesticides found their way into the farms .The scientific predictions of Rachel Carson became true and the public, especially farmers and scientists, the world over realised the dangers of pesticides. This led to the beginning of non-chemical farming. Researches and trials of traditional methods and also new models of soil and crop management began to appear.
For the last 4-5 decades scientists have been trying to find out a sustainable agricultural system. One of the prominent personalities among them was Sir. Albert Howard, the Advisor for Agriculture in India from 1905 to 1924. "An Agricultural Testament", written by him, is considered to be the first authentic book on organic farming in India. "Indoor method" in organic composting was also worked out first by him.
The permaculture (permanent agriculture) experiments of Bill Mollison and Holmen in the 1970's gave hope to many farmers the world over. The permaculture wave had its impact in Kerala too and since then many farmers have started experimenting this methodology and they found that this is one of the best practices for Kerala with its topographical peculiarities and high rainfall so as to conserve soil and water and improve productivity of their farms.
In a report submitted in 1983 to the Department of Agriculture of the United States, Robert Papendick and James Parr, agriculture scientists of the same department, had emphasised the crucial need for focussing research on sustainable agriculture to replace the farming systems being followed using chemical pesticides and fertilizers.
The infamous Bhopal tragedy of 1984 was an eye opener to a larger section of people in India and abroad. Discussion on alternatives began seriously. Publication of the book "One Straw Revolution" in 1984 by Masanobu Fukuoka (a Japanese scientist turned farmer), on his success in natural farming for the last half a century and, translation of his book into Malayalam in 1985 were timely in channelising such discussions in Kerala. Biodynamic farming was another method of organic farming which attracted many farmers.
The very sustainability of agriculture assumed serious concern in the discussions among the farmers and organizations in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Punjab and Kerala during the same period. The total external dependence of farmers for agriculture inputs had started affecting their economies leading to desperation among farming communities and ultimately to agrarian crisis. As an alternative, to make farming sustainable, Low External Input Sustainable Agriculture (LEISA) thus gained momentum in many places, especially sustainable among small and marginal farmers. The agriculture crisis that began in the late 1990s further strengthened this movement. Many individuals and organizations started interacting with farmers to make them understand the problems of the modern agriculture.
Thus, from a simple beginning, organic farming later matured to such dimensions as women's empowerment, seed conservation, development of seed banks, value addition and, more importantly, food and nutritional security. It took only 10-15 years for this transition and the results are encouraging.
Currently there are a number of certified organic farmers in the state, those cultivating cash crops such as spices, tea, and coffee, mainly targeting export market and also noncertified organic farmers who focus on food crops and biodiversity. All of them, whether certified or not, focus clearly on soil health improvement. Kerala also has an accredited organic certifying agency catering to the needs of the farmers.
Some of the farming systems such as Pokkali and Kaipad cultivation, cultivation of Jeerakasala and Gandhakasala varieties of paddy in Wayanad and, homestead farming systems all over the state are default organic. Studies have established the economic viability and productivity of homestead farms in the State and elsewhere. Recently the Adat panchayath in Thrissur district has started organic cultivation of rice in an area of 2,500 acres, promoting integrated farming system, which is known as Adat model. Similarly Marappanmoola in Wayanad has another model organic farming system involving hundreds of farmers.
Marketing of organic produce is also being experimented in many places like Organic Bazaar in Thiruvananthapuram, Eco-shops in Thrissur and Kozhikode and, Jaiva Krishi Sevana Kendram in Kannur. Self help groups of women are encouraged to undertake organic farming of vegetables in some panchayats.
There is a rich potential for promoting organic farming in Kerala in the light that intensity of inorganic agriculture here is not that severe compared to that in other States in the country. While the national average consumption of fertilizers and pesticides during 2002-2003 was 90kg/ha and 288g/ha respectively, it was only 60kg/ha and 224g/ha respectively in Kerala. This points to the positive side of agriculture in Kerala in terms of the already low levels of consumption of hazardous chemicals and, therefore, chances of redeeming farmers to organic agriculture are quite high.
Realising the ground realities, the State Department of Agriculture commenced organic farming promotional activities since 2002-03. In the following year, the Department set up a cell for Promotion of Sustainable Agriculture and Organic Farming. It has also launched two brands, namely 'Kerala Organic' and 'Kerala Naturals' to market organic farm produces. Currently, about 7,000 farmers practice organic farming in the State as per NPOP standards, covering a total area of 5750 ha. But non-certified organic cultivation area, assessments of which have not been done, is expected to be much more than this.
BENEFITS OF ORGANIC FARMING
The State Government have seized of the importance of organic farming and, realized the health hazards and un-sustainability of chemical farming as it clearly states in its Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan that the state has to have an organic farming policy to protect its rich biodiversity and thus sustain various livelihoods dependent on this precious resource.
ORGANIC FARMING POLICY, STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN OBJECTIVES
1. Make farming sustainable, remunerative and respectable.
2. Enhance natural soil fertility and productivity.
3. Ensure soil and water conservation.
4. Ensure agricultural bio-security and food and nutritional security.
5. Create and ensure domestic market for organic products controlled by the farmers.
6. Avoid the use of agrochemicals and other hazardous material and, ensure chemical - free
water, soil, air and food
8. Promote biodiversity based ecological farming.
9. Ensure quality control in organic inputs and agricultural produce.
10. Enable human health promotion by providing safe agricultural products and commodities.
11. Conservation and extension of traditional knowledge related to agriculture.
FAO put the objectives succinctly: "Organic agriculture improves food access by increasing productivity, diversity and conservation of natural resources, by raising incomes and by reducing risks for farmers. Improvement also results from sharing of knowledge among farmers. These benefits lead to poverty reduction and a reversal of rural outward migration. Policy requirements to improve food access include: increasing farmers' rights to seeds, local varieties and biodiversity; expanding fair-trade systems along the full value chain; evaluating current emergency aid and procurement programmes; and strengthening the rights of indigenous farmers".
STRATEGIES AND ACTION PLAN
General approach: The mission to convert Kerala into an organic State is to be achieved focusing on potential crops and areas in a phased and compact manner with the aim of converting a minimum of 10% of the cultivable land into entirely organic every year and thus achieving the target within five to ten years. On completion of the third year of implementation of the organic farming policy, a Committee of experts comprising representatives of farmers and scientists should make a comprehensive assessment of the farmer's well being, economy and environment and, only after rectifying the drawbacks, if any, can the policy be implemented in rest of the areas.
DEFINITION OF ORGANIC FARMER
A farmer may be defined as 'Organic Farmer' provided he/she adherses to and practices the following three essentialities of organic farming.
1. a farmer who practices mixed farming including food crops.
2. a farmer who ensures the conservation of soil and water.
3. a farmer who conserves the biodiversity of the farmland.
Strategy 1
Ensure seed sovereignty of the farmers and the State
Action
1.1 Establish seed villages exclusively for organic farming.
1.1 (a) Begin programmes for the production of seeds, seedlings, planting materials and,
traditional animal breeds
at the Panchayat level, so as to become self-sufficient in the
availability of good quality local seeds, both
indigenous and breeder seeds developed by
the KAU and other institutions of agricultural research.
1.1(b) Begin at the farmer's group levels, seed banks and seed cooperatives to produce, store,
share and supply
good quality seeds, including those which are traditional and location
specific.
1.1(c) Promote farmers who can produce organically, good quality seeds and develop participatory
seed
production programmes along with the KAU and other institutions of agricultural
research.
1.1(d) Develop storage facilities/protection measures using traditional methods
1.2 Ensure maintenance of traceability chain mandatory at the Local Self Government
Institution level by the
Biodiversity Management Committees (BMC) with regard to seeds
produced, sold, transferred and shared in
the Panchayat to protect the farmers from
spurious low quality seeds, including hazardous genetically modified
seeds
1.3 Declare and ensure Genetically Modified(GM) free villages/panchayats and State
1.4 Establish a mechanism to regulate the prices of seeds
1.5 Ensure supply of locally suitable seeds in each agro-climatic zone
Strategy 2
Implementation of organic farming policy in a phased manner
Action
2.1 Conduct an initial assessment of the status of organic farming and farmers in the State
including cultivated,
certified and non-cultivated wild organic areas in the State.
2.2 Develop an action plan with an objective of converting annual crops such as grains, fruits
and vegetables to
organic within five years and the perennial crops with in 10 years.
2.3 Develop a clear plan of action with budgets for incorporation into the planning process of
the Local Self
Government Institutions for phasing in organic farming in the State.
2.4 Special thrust should be initially given to complex, diverse and risk prone areas such as
rain-fed districts,
drought-prone districts, food crop producing districts and tribal districts.
2.5 All agricultural practices to be launched in the tribal belts of Kerala should compulsorily be
organic.
Strategy 3
Compact Area Group approach in organic farming
Action
3.1 Encourage the formation of Organic farmers groups, especially women organic farmer groups,
clubs, SHG's
and cooperatives for the purpose of cultivation, input production, seed/
seedlings/planting materials
production, certification and marketing.
3.2 Each group should be of a minimum five members (as stipulated under the Participatory
Guarantee System of
Certification)
3.3 Models such as Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council of Kerala (VFPCK), Maarappanmoola
Cooperative
Society, Adat Cooperative Society for paddy, GALASA, Compact Area Group
approach of Kannore KVK,
Harithasree may be adopted.
3.4 Encourage Kudumbasree, Vanasamrakshana Samithi, Theera SVS, Grama Haritha Samithi
to develop organic
farming enterprises
Strategy 4
Strengthen soil and ensure water conservation measures
Action
4.1 Declare the existing sacred groves, ponds and mangroves as protected areas and ensure
their conservation.
4.2 Ensure organic farming approach in all the watershed development areas and extend support
including
capacity building and financial assistance for soil and water conservation measures
through ongoing
watershed development programmes.
4.3 Integrate the various institutions presently involved in watershed management and introduce
organic farming
as a key component.
4.4 Adopt appropriate agronomic practices suitable to the agro-ecological conditions as well as
the topographical
conditions at the micro watershed level and, discourage/restrict
inappropriate crops and cropping practices.
4.5 Kerala Agricultural University and other research institutions should develop suitable crop
combinations and
locally suitable technology, through participatory research with farmers.
4.6 Encourage landowners and part-time farmers by providing adequate financial support to
utilize their lands for
organic farming, if left unutilized.
4.7 Formulate legislative measures to rejuvenate and protect traditional water resources including
fresh water
lakes, surangas and ensure rain water conservation, restriction of bore wells,
especially in dark zones and
recharging of existing bore wells, open wells and ponds, and
other conservation measures so as to improve
ground water table and also conserve top
soil.
4.8 Establish testing facilities for soil, water, micronutrients and microorganisms at least at the
block and introduce
the system of providing Soil Health Cards.
4.9 Promote bio-fencing and thus help ensure soil and water conservation and, availability of
green manure and
green leaf manure.
4.10 Conduct training programmes for resource persons at the Local Self Government Institution
level on soil and
water conservation measures.
4.11 Avoid use of plastics in agricultural practices. Coir and other natural fibres should be
encouraged to prepare
shade for nurseries and flower farming.
Strategy 5
Promote a mixed farming approach for livelihood security and ecological sustainability
Action
5.1 Make crop-livestock (including poultry) integrated farming as part of organic farming, with
women centered
ownership and management in the farmer households and groups.
Emphasis may be given to Kerala's traditional farming approach of integrated farming of
dominantly coconut with cattle and poultry.
5.2 Develop Bee-keeping, fisheries, duckeries and similar enterprises as part of the mixed farming
programme.
5.3 Promote decentralized production of livestock feed from locally available resources, but
excluding spurious ingredients such as growth promoters and hormones.
5.4 Document and popularise traditional knowledge related to animal health care.
5.5 Develop linkages between organic farmers and livestock growing farmers for exchange of
manure for fodder.
5.6 Encourage mixed cropping of indigenous trees and medicinal plants through organic farming.
5.7 Promote proven and successful practices developed by farmers.
5.8 Tax relaxation shall be given to the land holding with maximum forest and wild trees.
Strategy 6
Conserve and improve agro-biodiversity and undomesticated biodiversity
Action
6.1 Document agro-biodiversity and related traditional knowledge and practice, both cultivated
and un-cultivated,
in each Panchayat.
6.2 Encouragement in the form of financial support may be given for the establishment of
model agro-biodiversity
conservation farms.
6.3 Develop programmes for farmers to collect, purify and multiply traditional seeds.
6.4 Encourage protection of traditional agricultural systems such as Kaipad, Pokkali and Kole
and Kuttanad as
"agricultural heritage of Kerala".
6.5 Promote indigenous rice varieties such as navara, jeerakasala and gandhakasala and also
other traditional
indigenous varieties of crops.
Strategy 7
Launch a state-wide intensive campaign on organic farming in the form of a popular movement: "Jaiva Keralam".
Action
7.1 Organise Organic Mela's in all districts.
7.2 Begin state-wide awareness programmes for the promotion of organic farming focusing on
the advantages of
organic produce and harmful effects of chemical-based farming.
7.3 Produce handouts, publications of case-studies and best practices, video films, posters
and other awareness
materials to reach out to all sections, especially women.
7.4 Organize workshops, seminars and exchange programmes for consumers, teachers, traders,
farmers,
government and semi-government officials in the related area.
7.5 Ensure the strict enforcement of the provisions of the Food Adulteration Act, 1954, and
rules 1955, and bring
suitable legislations to notify and enable Agriculture Officers, Veterinary
Doctors and similar professionals as
Inspectors under the Act and also establish quality
and adulteration testing facilities at district level.
7.6 Encourage setting up of organic kitchen gardens, organic orchards in urban and rural
households.
Strategy 8
Ensure availability of quality organic manure to the farmers
Action
8.1 Encourage, with adequate support, the availability of biomass in the organic farm itself,
through programmes
such as crop rotation, tree crops, cover crops, leguminous crops, green
manure and green leaf manure.
8.2 Provide support for cow, buffalo, duck, fish, poultry and goat, preferably traditional breeds,
to organic
farmers/groups to ensure integrated farming and the availability of farmyard
manure and urine.
8.3 Required changes in the exisiting Cattle Breeding Policy may be made to ensure availability
of indigenous
varities of cow and bufallow to the organic farmers.
8.4 Encourage the production of various types of compost in the farm itself, including
vermicomposting and biogas
slurry.
8.5 Formulate special programmes for increasing the biomass and organic manures, especially
in rain-fed
cultivation areas where soil depletion is high, so as to drought proof the farm.
8.6 Encourage indigenous species of earthworms and effective microorganisms in composting.
8.7 Establish a decentralized system to produce organic manure from biodegradable organic
waste segregated at
source.
8.8 Ensure the quality of the organic manure and establish a centralized testing laboratory to
monitor the same.
8.9 Discourage burning of all organic materials in the field, which could be utilized as manure.
8.10 Under the leadership of the "Padasekhara Samithi" and other farmer groups draw the
benefits of the
provisions of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme to ensure
production of green leaves and
extraction of silt from the rural ponds, tanks, reservoirs,
streams and rivulets for augmenting the fertility of the
farm lands.
Strategy 9
Ensure farm inputs for organic farming
Action
9.1 Implement programmes for the production of seeds, seedlings and other planting materials,
manure, plant
protection materials at the farm with the help of agriculture department,
Agricultural university, at local level.
9.2 Encourage Farmers Associations/Clubs/Cooperatives/Companies of farmers, SHG's/Youth
groups at the local
level to produce need based farm inputs.
9.3 Link organic municipal solid waste segregated at source, especially from markets, hostels,
densely populated
areas and other institutions including night soils to farms through such
means as simple and cost-effective
decentralised composting, biogasification and vermicomposting
and thus ensure organic matter recycling.
Organic waste treatment plant should
be made compulsory for the flats.
9.4 Conduct training programmes for local resource persons for producing good quality input,
quality testing and
for such related aspects at the Local Self Government Institution level.
9.5 Formulate legislative measures to empower the Local Self Government Institutions, reputed
NGO's for
ensuring quality of inputs, including necessary rules, guidelines, standards,
monitoring and testing procedures
and establishment of laboratories.
9.6 Establish special financial assistance schemes, and/or link existing support schemes to
groups to start
production facilities for farm inputs.
9.7 Develop local linkages for low cost input materials to farmers and ensure markets for good
quality input
materials at reasonable price.
9.8 Steps may be taken to formulate the organic farming packages developed by the Agricultural
University in
collaboration with organic farmers. Priority may be given for crops like banana,
ginger, pine apple, vegetables,
pepper, cardamom, paddy etc.
9.9 Prepare a database on the organic content of the soil in different zones of Kerala.
9.10 Ensure the quality of fruits and vegetables coming from other states.
Strategy 10
Capacity Building for farmers, implementing officers, agencies, and local selfgovernment members
Action
10.1 Conduct orientation, training and exposure visit programmes.
10.2 Group of 10-20 unemployed youth in each Panchayat (50% women) in the model of
kudumbasree would be
designated as "Karshaka Sevakar", trained in all facets of organic
farm management supported through Local
Self Government Institution programmes to
assist farmers in organic farming.
10.3 Develop the existing Agro-clinics of the Department of Agriculture into Organic Farming
Resource Centres
and the staff should be given training on organic farming.
10.4 Create awareness on organic farming practices among the agriculture officers in the
Agriculture Department.
Strategy 11
Develop Model Sustainable Organic Farms in the State
Action
11.1 Every Local Self Government Institution would develop model organic farms in select farmers fields.11.2 Research Stations in each agro-ecological zones under the KAU and other agricultural institutions should be
converted to organic management systems, and thus become a field study centre for students, farmers and
peoples representatives.
11.3 Such farming areas could be made as part of the responsible tourism programme.
Strategy 12
Ensure and improve the health and wellbeing of the tribal through special tribal agriculture programmes.
Action
12.1 Ensure adequate nutritional food availability for tribals, whose traditional agriculture has been degraded.12.2 Develop specific programmes for the rejuvenation of their traditional agriculture and knowledge protection.
12.3 Ensure sustainable collection of minor forest produce and facilitate the fair marketing of these produce
through organic outlets.
12.4 Formulate specific schemes to provide tribal children with their traditional food at least once in a day.
12.5 Develop village (ooru) level seed banks of their traditional crops and medicinal plants.
12.6 Integrate watershed programmes, NREG etc in the rejuvenation of tribal agriculture.
Strategy 13
Establish Producer Companies promoted by organic farmersAction
13.1 Facilitate establishment of Organic Farmer Producer Companies or similar concerns as an
organic farmers
promoted enterprise with share investment by the organic farmers and the
LSGs
Strategy 14
Establish storage and transportation facilities
Action
14.1 Establish separate and decentralized storage facilities for organic farm produce to ensure
its organic integrity
and help farmers in certification processes.
14.2 Provide separate local transportation facilities for organic produce to nearby domestic
markets.
Strategy 15
Promote farm level processing, value addition and encourage the use of organic farm produce in food industry
Action
15.1 Encourage farm processing by farmers groups, SHGs and Farmer Producer Companies for
value addition.
15.2 Ensure value addition does not compromise organic produce quality by facilitating testing
and evaluation of
processes with help from KAU and other research institutions.
15.3 Encourage organic food-based industry in Kerala to procure and use organic produce in
their products.
15.4 Set up food industries at manageable decentralised levels in the State with special incentive
packages.
Strategy 16
Develop diverse channels for marketing of organic produce
Action
16.1 Set up separate markets/facilities for organic produce certified by the PGS process through
the existing
channels of marketing of Agriculture products such as the Milma, Supplyco,
Horti-corp, Haritha and People's
Market.
16.2 Encourage direct marketing/linkages by farmers groups with end user institutions such as
schools, hostels,
hotels, hospitals, Ayurveda centres, SHG's making food products and foodbased
industries in the State.
16.3 Encourage institutions such as schools, hostels, hospitals and government institutions to
procure local
organic produce following rules and specific guidelines.
16.4 Disallow large private retail corporations through suitable legislations.
16.5 Encourage existing vegetable, fruits and grocery vendors to promote organic products.
16.6 Facilitate the establishment of organic farm produce outlets in all the districts, with the help
of Governmental
and Non governmental organizations.
16.7 Ensure that the tourism industry, through the Responsible Tourism Initiative, source organic
produce from
local producers as much as possible for their hotels and resorts.
Strategy 17
Develop a simple certification process in the State for all organic farmers
Action
17.1 Encourage through specific scheme the implementation of an internal control system for
organic farmer
group.
17.2 Encourage the Participatory Guarantee System of Certification for small and marginal farmers
to supply to the
domestic market.
17.3 NGOs accredited by the PGS Council of India shall be authorised to help implement and
monitor the PGS
system in the State.
17.4 The State will develop an Organic Kerala Certification and a logo and, "Jaiva Keralam" shall
be developed as
a brand. Since each country is following different norms, crops aimed at
export may go for third party
certification.
17.5 Fix local standards for quality testing and certification.
17.6 Ensure that every organic farmer who is doing organic farming for three years is given the
certificate free of
cost.
17.7 Include organic livestock rearing, (Animal husbandry) in the certification system.
Strategy 18
Provide financial incentives for promoting organic farmingAction
18.1 Provide interest-free loans to organic farmers, especially small and marginal farmers. Credits
linked to banks
shall be subsidized through Central/State Governments.
18.2 Set in place production linked incentive system supports.
18.3 Promote revolving funds system.
18.4 Provide assistance during conversion period; two years for annual crops and three years for
perennials.
18.5 Introduce a State led insurance scheme for small and marginal organic farmers.
18.6 Introduce pension for organic farmers.
Strategy 19
Encourage the use of renewable energy sources
Action
19.1 Assistance in terms of expertise and finances should be given for use of biogas plants,
solar energy and wind
energy units wherever feasible to reduce dependence on external
energy sources.
19.2 Develop appropriate small farm machinery for reducing energy, cost and drudgery
Strategy 20
Introduce organic farming in education institutions
Action
20.1 Introduce organic farming in educational institutions, prisons and juvenile homes, through
academic inputs. A
specific campaign shall be started among students to ensure that they
take organically grown food.
20.2 Set up a system in all schools in Kerala to have organic vegetable and fruit gardens as well
as paddy, in
potential regions, as part of inculcating among the children the love for organic
farming and biodiversity
conservation and, perpetuation in their households. Necessary
support schemes may be formulated and
implemented through the Local Self Government
Institutions.
20.3 Encourage schools to have seed banks and seed farms in the premises, wherever feasible,
to produce and
supply good quality seeds for the use in their nearby regions.
20.4 Promote children-farmer interfaces in each school, which shall include visits to organic
farms.
20.5 Encourage schools to link with organic farmers for supply of rice, vegetables, fruits, pulses,
milk, egg and
honey as part of the noon-meal and nutritional supplement programmes.
The ICDS can also be encouraged to
supply organic food processed and prepared through
SHG's for the Anganwadi's.
20.6 Provide suitable incentives to baby food industries that use organic inputs and processes.
20.7 Develop a curriculum for school students on organic farming.
20.8 Publicity through the Farm Information Bureau.
Strategy 21
Reorient Research, Education and Extension
Action
21.1 The KAU would set up a special multi-institutional special task force to re-orient the Research,
Education and
Extension systems to support the Organic Farming Policy and the transition
of the State's agriculture to
organic farming.
21.2 The KAU shall develop package of practices and model demonstration farms for organic
farming in different
agro-ecological zones.
21.3 Introduce as part of the course curriculum, both at under and post graduate levels,
interactions with leading
organic farmers, groups and NGO's promoting organic farming in
the state.
21.4 Develop participatory research programmes with organic farmers on all aspects of organic
farming, ensuring
a monthly remuneration for the farmers of the participatory research
programme.
21.5 Research and inventories so as to recognize and document existing practices of organic
farmers.
21.6 Identify and screen native livestock/fish breeds which are locally adaptable and resistant
to parasites and
diseases.
21.7 Develop herbal remedies for control of diseases and pests of livestock/ crops/ fish.
21.8 To institutionalise the above, an Organic Farming Research Institute (OFRI) may be set up.
Strategy 22
Phase out Chemical Pesticides and Fertilizers from the farming sector
Action
22.1 Ensure phased restriction/ban of sale and use of chemical agricultural inputs such as
fertilizers, pesticides,
fungicides and weedicides parallel to the implementation of the organic
farming policy in the region.
22.2 Through necessary legislation stop the sale and use of the highly toxic Class-1a and 1b
pesticides as a
preliminary step.
22.3 Declare and maintain ecologically sensitive areas with rich biodiversity and natural resource
base
(e.g. water bodies), as Chemical Pesticide and Fertilizer-Free Zones.
22.4 Regulate the sale and use of pesticide through necessary legislations, enforcing a prescription
based system
ensuring that pesticides are sold only on a case-to-case basis after obtaining
prescription from the Agriculture
Officer.
22.5 Strictly prohibit the sale of pesticides to children, pregnant women and non-farmers.
22.6 Generate a database on the non-agricultural use of pesticides
(e.g.: household, storage,
food processing, construction) and regulate its sale and use.
22.7 Review and regulate promotional activities and advertisements of pesticides as per the
FAO Code of Conduct
and Guidelines for Pesticide Use.
22.8 Conduct periodical analysis of water, soil, milk and crops at the district level where pesticides
continue to be
used and the data made public.
22.9 Precautionary measures should be taken before using exotic organisms for biocontrol
programmes.
Strategy 23
Integrate the programmes and activities of various departments, local selfgovernments and organizations
Action
23.1 Integrate the various government departments, institutions, civil societies, and their schemes
in a
harmonious manner duly considering organic farming principles and local situations.
These include
government departments such as Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Forest,
Fisheries, Local Bodies, Finance,
Revenue, Industries, Tribal, Khadi and Village Industries;
Financial Institutions, State Corperation Department;
institutions, such as Kerala Agriculture
University, ICAR institutions in the state; Commodity Boards for Spices,
Coffee, Tea, Coconut
and Rubber; APEDA, MILMA and other milk marketing societies; Farmers Organisations
and Societies, Self Help Groups; Organic Farming Associations and, NGOs promoting organic
farming
Strategy 24
Organisational set-up for promotion of organic farmingAction
24.1 Set up an Organic Kerala Mission to implement the organic farming policy, strategy and
action plan and
ensure their success. Since the coordination of the various departments is
vital for the some, a General
Council to be chaired by the Honourable Chief Minister and,
since the policy has to be implemented by the
Agricultural department, an Executive
Committee to be chaired by the Honourable Minister for Agriculture will
supervise and guide
the functioning of Organic Kerala Mission.
Courtesy :
KERALA STATE ORGAIC FARMIG POLICY, STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN - 2008 Government of
Kerala
ORGANIC KERALA CHARITABLE TRUST also played a role in the drawing up of the Organic
policy for Kerala during the 2008. The Trust representatives participated in the formative
discussions.