Kerala - Kochi   

Project to create domestic market for organic products

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, FEB. 3. The Indian Organic Market Development Project (IOMDP), initiated by the Bangalore-based International Competence Centre for Organic Agriculture (ICCOA), was launched by Hans-Peter Egler, Head, Trade & Environmental Technology Cooperation of State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), Switzerland, here today.

The three-year project, worth Rs. 2.55 crores of grant from the Swiss Government, aims at creating a domestic market for organic products in India.

The agreement for the project was signed on the occasion by Mr. Egler and Ramesh L. Harve, president, ICCOA. Samuel B. Moser, from Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Switzerland, who is also the coordinator of IOMDP, presented a report on the project.

Jacques Derron, Counsellor, Swiss Embassy, New Delhi, released the ICCOA's brochure. Tej Partap, executive director, ICCOA, presented its concept and activities.

Organic coffee

A new variety of organic coffee powder flavoured with vanilla was released at the function by N.V. Belavadi, Regional Director (Southern Region), National Dairy Development Board. Subaida Ahammad, Director, RAABS Solutions, Kochi, received the first sample. The power was developed by P.J. Chackochan, director, IOFPCL.

Joykutty Verghese, director, Indian Organic Farmers Producer Company Limited (IOFPCL), Aluva, which is one of the promoters of the project, spoke on an organic farmer's experiences in constituting a company. Jaleel M.Malik, chief executive officer, IOFPCL, and Joshy V. Cherian, vice-president, ICCOA, and chairman of IOFPCL, also spoke.

The media seminar held in the afternoon was inaugurated by the senior farm journalist, G. Viswanathan Nair. R. Prakash, Project Coordinator, Transfer of Technology, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellayani, and vice-president, Indian Agriculture Association, moderated the seminar.

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