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Organic Coffee in India
Organic coffee means a coffee grown under holistic agricultural production management
system that includes on-farm composting of farm resources, mulching, shade regulation
and eco-friendly pest and disease control measures. It completely excludes the use
of agro-chemicals with an aim of preserving the environment and to obtain residue
free product. However, in order to provide authenticity to the product as organic,
it has to be certified by an accredited certification agency.
Scope for organic coffee production in India:
There is a lot of scope for production of organic coffee in India, due to natural
advantages existing in the cultivation of coffee, which are as follows:
Coffee is mainly grown in deep fertile jungle soil under well-defined mixed shade
consisting leguminous and non-leguminous trees.
Majority of the coffee holdings are dominated by small and tribal growers with low
or zero inputs or synthetic inputs with sustainable yields, which are ideally suited
for conversion to organic farming without any serious setbacks in yields
Majority of small and tribal holdings are following traditional farming practices
such as cattle manure, composting, manual weeding, recycling of organic wastes,
which are prerequisites for organic coffee production. Coffee in principle is mainly
grown under high degree of mixed cropping under shade with sustainable income.
Role of Coffee Board in Promotion of Organic Coffee
Production
Coffee Board, initiated steps to promote organic coffee production in the country
by implementing a Project “Promotion of Organic Coffee Production in India” during
the IX plan period (1997-2002) with the objectives of standardizing package of practices
for production of organic coffee, to create awareness among the growers by organizing
trainings/workshops/seminars/education campaign and to identify the potential zones
for production of organic coffee in coffee growing regions of India.
Based on the outcome of the surveys and case studies, it was felt necessary to extend
certain incentives besides the technical support in order to promote organic coffee
production. Hence, the project was extended in X plan period (2002-07). Initially
Board decided to extend developmental assistance by providing financial assistance
towards cost of inspection & certification of organic coffee estates. As a result
to grant incentives towards the cost of certification to organic coffee growers,
modalities and norms were drawn. Further, database on organic coffee area, production
and the number of holdings practicing organic coffee production in different growing
regions is made available.
Incentives Scheme for Organic Coffee Growers
Coffee Board is providing financial assistance (grant) to organic coffee growers
towards the cost of Inspection & Certification of organic coffee. The eligibility
norms for providing financial assistance are as follows.
The growers / growers association / SHG’s have to produce organic coffee as per
the National Standards of Organic Production (NSOP).
The coffee has to be certified by an accredited Inspection & Certification Agency
recognized under National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP). Visit www.apeda.gov.in for the list of inspection & certification
agencies.
In the case of self help groups, growers associations, cooperatives and NGO’s they
should have been registered under Co-operative Societies Act or Societies Registration
Act of their respective state. The financial assistance towards Inspection & Certification
cost will be released only after evaluation of application by Coffee Board.
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