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products. As a result of this multiplicity of been the excessive use of chemical inputs
regulatory bodies, there are no guidelines that led to deterioration in the soil quality
for certified organic products in the domes- (see Hema and Ilavarsan 2016; Srivastava
tic marketwhich poses a big challenge for etal. 2016). Increased exposure to chemical
consumers, who do not know if they are pesticides and fertilizers has led to an increase
actually consuming an organic product or in the incidence of diseases such as cancer
not. Lack of standards implies that there is in states such as Punjab (see Blaurock-Busch
scope for malpractices such as mixing or- etal. 2010).
ganic products with nonorganic ones and A number of studies have shown that
the risk of importing products of substan- organic farming as an alternative to conven-
dard quality. This article will try to exam- tional farming can help improve soil quality,
ine the global best practices in the area of and if properly practiced, organic farming
organic farming that can help in designing can provide the same or even higher yields
a comprehensive policy for India. than conventional agriculture (see Rupela
With the growing popularity of organic food etal. 2006; Singh etal. 2007). Studies have
products in India and abroad, be it in retail also shown that organic food products fetch
stores, manufacturing, processing, exports a higher price vis--vis conventional food
and imports, and even in online formats, products (see Ramesh etal. 2010) in the
this article will be very helpful for working domestic as well as export markets, which
professionals in this field and students in can, in turn, help to increase farm incomes.
India and across the globe who wish to know In the 1970s, when consumers in developed
more about the existing and future policies countries started shifting toward organic food
that might shape trade and the growth of the products, Indian exporters of commercial
market for organic food products. This would crops such as tea were quick to realize that
also help them to understand how policies organic food products earn a premium price
should be designed for a more holistic growth in export markets.
of the industry. Overall, given the concerns related to
Globally, there is growing awareness of the deterioration of the soil quality, adverse
environmental protection and sustainable impacts of excessive chemical use on the
agricultural practices, which has prompted health of consumers, focus of the importing
a shift toward organic farming and organic countries such as the United States (US) and
food. India, with a variety of agro-climatic the European Union (EU) on reducing the
conditions, can produce a wide range of or- maximum residue levels for chemicals in
ganic crops. Prior to the 1960s, the cultivation food products, the demand for organic and
and harvesting of crops in India was done sustainable food from developed country
in an environmentally sustainable manner, markets, and the premium price for organic
the method by default being organic. The produce, India has again started to shift toward
growing concerns about feeding a large organic agriculture to first cater to the foreign
population and achieving self-sufficiency in markets, and then, to the growing domestic
food grain production led India to embark demand for such produce in recent years.
upon the Green Revolution in the 1960s The Indian government has taken several
with increased usage of chemical inputs policy initiatives to support organic food
such as fertilizers and pesticides. With the production and exports. Since organic trade
use of chemical inputs, modern technology, is dependent on the recognition of standards
and high-yielding varieties of seeds, crop and processes by importing countries, the
productivity improved and this enabled the Agricultural and Processed Food Products
country to become self-sufficient in cereal Export Development Authority (APEDA),
production (Dhanagare 1987; Singh 2000). under the Department of Commerce, Min-
The downside of the Green Revolution has istry of Commerce and Industry, took the