On the Hunt For Organic Products: What I've Learnt So Far - Radhika Jhaveri

Its been three years since we moved out of Mumbai and into interior Maharashtra. Since we've been here, we've been on the look out for organic farm produce and related products - jaggery, kakvi, turmeric, spices, rice, wheat, millets etc.

We found multiple traders who use the word 'shendriya' meaning 'organic' in Marathi for a number of items but more often than not they do not have any certification to back up the claim. Does that mean the products are not genuinely organic? Yes and No.

We have found out that in India, there is no regulation yet on the use of the word 'Organic' which has resulted in mislabeling of several products as 'organic' without there being adequate testing and certification.

Here's what the farmers that we spoke to told us: In order for a farmer to get the certification done, they have to stop using pesticides for a period of 5 years. After which the soil can be sent to a lab for testing - there arent many labs that do this type of testing. We know one in Sangli but they do not do broad spectrum testing here. Those are done in Pune and are expensive.

But there are other criteria as well: It is not enough to just test the soil, the groundwater/river water too has to be tested since the leachate from the soil crosses over and contaminates the water as well. Also, if the nearby farms are still using pesticides, that leachate can cross contaminate the organic farm as well.

Another point that was made to us by some farmers was that its not as if the yield returns upon stopping the usage of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. if the soil quality has deteriorated because of prolonged use of pesticides, its regeneration takes time. Not all farmers may be able to afford the wait for the time it takes for soil regeneration to happen.

We also discovered that many farmers have infact turned to organic farming but find the hassle of the certification process to expensive or too lengthy. So, despite being organic, they may not have adequate certification.

We are working towards gathering more information and are speaking to and learning from more and more farmers. Will post again soon!