Published on: January 14, 2025

NATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR ORGANIC PRODUCTION (NPOP)

NATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR ORGANIC PRODUCTION (NPOP)

NEWS – The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry recently released the eighth edition of the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP).

ABOUT NATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR ORGANIC PRODUCTION (NPOP):

  • Launched: 2001
  • Objective: To systematically develop the organic agriculture sector in India by:
    • Promoting sustainable farming practices.
    • Opening new opportunities for farmers and exporters.

KEY FEATURES

  • Sets high standards for organic products, enhancing India’s competitiveness in the global organic market.
  • Encourages farmers to adopt eco-friendly and economically viable practices.
  • Includes activities like:
    • Accreditation of Certification Bodies.
    • Development of standards for organic production.
    • Promotion of organic farming and marketing.

IMPLEMENTING AGENCY

  • APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industries, is responsible for implementing NPOP.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 8TH EDITION OF NPOP:

  • Focused on promoting ease of operations and enhancing transparency for stakeholders.
  • Simplified certification requirements for organic grower groups, granting them legal status instead of using the Internal Control System (ICS).

NEW PORTALS LAUNCHED

  • NPOP Portal:
    • A dedicated portal for better visibility and ease of operations for organic stakeholders.
  • Organic Promotion Portal:
    • Enables farmers, FPOs, and exporters to:
      • Showcase certified organic products.
      • Generate trade leads.
      • Connect with global buyers.
    • Features online training sessions, capacity building, and updates on organic trade events.
  • TraceNet 2.0:
    • Upgraded online traceability system for:
      • Seamless operations.
      • Enhanced regulatory oversight tools.
    • APEDA Portal:
      • Redesigned for better user experience and improved information access for agri and processed food stakeholders.
    • AgriXchange Portal:
      • Redesigned portal offering:
        • User-friendly data analysis tools.
        • Reports and accessible agricultural export data for the general public.