Lok Sabha Question No. 1174 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-03
Subject: MoU between NCOL and State Organic Commodity Boards
Ministry: COOPERATION
Asked by: Shri Eatala Rajender, Smt. D K Aruna, Shri Suresh Kumar Shetkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COOPERATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1174 TO BE ANSWERED ON  03 rd  DECEMBER, 2024

## MOU between NCOL and State Organic Commodity Boards:

## 1174       SHRI SURESH KUMAR SHETKAR:

## SHRI EATALA RAJENDER:

## SMT. D K ARUNA:

Will the Minister of COOPERATION ( सहकारिता मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  chemicals  present  in  fertilizers are source  of several ailments  such  as hypertension, diabetes, thyroid, and even cancer and organic farming was linked to the health of 140 crore Indians and if any Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the  National  Cooperative Organics Ltd. (NCOL) and other State Organic Commodity Boards is signed and if so the details thereof and progress made in this regard; and
- (b) whether the movement for organic farming has reached important stage and cooperatives have an important role in making India the world's largest organic food producing country and there is awareness about organic products with huge global market for the same and when we increase India's share by tapping this market, the share of our farmers and their income in the profitable business of organic products also increases and if so, the details thereof/present status thereof ?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF COOPERATION सहकारिता मंत्री ( SHRI AMIT SHAH )

(a): As the awareness about serious effects of presence of chemical residues in food-chain by use of chemical input grows, alternative means of production of agriculture and allied items have started gaining importance. Organic farming is one such alternative where the produce is grown under a system of agriculture, without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, with an environment friendly and socially responsible approach. It preserves the reproductive and regenerative capacity of the soil to produce nutritious food which is rich in vitality and has resistance to diseases.

Ministry of Cooperation has set up National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL) under the  Multi-State  Cooperative  Societies  (MSCS) Act,  2002.  The  NCOL  is  promoted  by  Gujarat

Cooperative  Milk  Marketing  Federation  Limited  (GCMMF),  National Agricultural  Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED), National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India  Limited  (NCCF),  National  Dairy  Development  Board  (NDDB)  and  National  Cooperative Development  Corporation  (NCDC).  The  initial  paid  up  capital  of  NCOL  is  Rs.  100  Cr  with contribution of Rs. 20 Cr each by the five promoters and authorized share capital is Rs. 500 Cr. The NCOL  has  been  set  up  to  provide  institutional  support  for  aggregation,  certification,  testing, procurement, storage, processing, branding, labelling, packaging, logistic facilities, marketing of organic products and facilitate in arranging financial assistance to the organic farmers through its member Cooperatives including PACS/FPOs alongwith promotional and developmental activities of organic products with the help of various schemes and agencies of the Government.  The NCOL will help in marketing of authentic and certified organic products to increase production of organic products by the cooperatives at various levels.

The National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL) signed a Memorandum  of Understanding (MoU) with the Uttarakhand Organic Commodity Board (UOCB) on 30th August 2024, in New Delhi.

As part of this collaboration, NCOL and UOCB are working together to enhance the procurement of certified organic commodities from the state of Uttarakhand. The initial focus is on sourcing organic wheat from UOCB-affiliated farmers in the next Rabi season, reflecting a commitment to sustainable agriculture and improved consumer health.

(b): The movement for organic farming in India has reached a significant milestone, positioning the country  as  a  global  leader  in  organic  agriculture.  India's  diverse  agro-climatic  conditions  and traditional  farming  practices  provide  immense  potential  to  produce  a  wide  variety  of  organic products. Inherently organic and wild harvest areas offer additional advantages, enabling India to meet growing domestic and export demands for organic food.

In the year 2023-24, India produced 3.6 million MT of certified organic products, including oilseeds, cereals, pulses, spices, fruits, vegetables, and non-edible items like organic cotton fibre and herbal products. Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan lead in organic production. India exported 2,61,029 MT of organic products valued at Rs. 4007.91 Crore (USD 494.80 million). Major export destinations include the USA, EU, Great Britain, and Southeast Asia. (Source: APEDA)

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