India and Australia signed an agreement on ecological products on Wednesday and accepted each other for a wide range of organic products. The Ministry of the Union Commerce Ministry said it was expected to try to trade between the two countries while opening up new opportunities for farmers, processors and exporters.
The Indian Agriculture and Processed Food Exports Office (APEDA) and the Australian Ministry of Agriculture, Fishing and Forestry (DAFF) shall jointly introduce an agreement on mutual recognition (MRA), the Ministry said.
The arrangement reflects growing trust and confidence in organic standards and certification systems of others, the ministry said. It is expected to simplify compliance requirements, reduce regulatory barriers, and help Indian exporters gain access to the Australian high value market.
The agreement was signed in the presence of the Minister of Trade Sunil Barthwal, Chairman of Apeda Abhishek Dev, and Tom Black, the first assistant, DAFF, along with higher officials and leading exporters.
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He stressed the importance of step and Barthwal said: “The Indian National Program for Organic Production (NPOP) has set strict standards that ensure transparency and credibility in the ecosystem of the country’s organic ecosystem.” “Organic products must not only be considered as a certification number, but as part of a larger system that protects integrity, maintains strict quality controls and ensures better revenue for farmers. With ecological production it brings 30-40% higher, the arrangements are likely to strengthen livelihoods,” said the secretary. Barthwal also emphasized the need for proper marking, sanctions and strict separation of ecological and non -organic products, in addition to building capacities and advice for farmers.
Rapid growth in the sector
The black, representing the Australian government, appreciated the rapid growth of the Indian organic sector and has seen the role of Indian diaspora in the expansion of organic trade between the two countries.
He stressed that Australia already has 53 million hectares of ecological agricultural land, the largest in the world, pointed out fresh occasions in cereals, tea, spices, drinks and wines.
Indian organic exports to Australia amounted to $ 8.96 million in the years 2024–25, with consignments of 2,781.58 metric tons led by products such as psychy peel, coconut milk and rice.
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Mint informed 19 February 2024 that the center planned to invest around £105 Crore to increase the ability of ecological food testing in two dozen central and state laboratories. The aim of this step is to improve the quality of organic food on the domestic market and ensure better prices for farmers.
Ecological products are grown under the agriculture system without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides with an environmentally friendly and socially responsible approach.
According to the APEDA website, India ranks second in terms of world ecological agricultural land and first in terms of the total number of manufacturers. In FY24, India produced approximately 3.6 million tonnes of certified organic products, bridge a wide range of commodities, including oilseeds, fiber, sugar cane, cereals and millet, cotton, pulses, aromatic and medicinal plants, tea, coffee, fruit, spices, dry fruit, vegetables and processed foods.
Organic Earth’s production is not limited to edible objects, but also includes ecological cotton fiber and functional food products. Among the states Mahashtra appeared as the largest producer, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Gujarat.
In terms of commodities categories, fibers were the largest proportion, followed by oilseed seeds, sugar crops, cereals and millet, medicinal and aromatic plants, spices and spices, fresh fruit and vegetables, pulses and tea and coffee.
The total area of India under organic cultivation in FY24 was 7.3 million hectares, which represents 4.5 million hectares of agricultural areas and 2.8 million hectares of wild areas. Madhya Pradesh represented the largest certified ecological area, followed by Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Odisha, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Indian ecological products have a wide export track, reaching markets such as the US, the European Union, Canada, Great Britain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Vietnam, Australia, Thailand, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea. During the FY24 India, it exported 2.61 lakh tons of organic food and earned around $ 494.8 million, emphasizing the growing global demand for its certified environmental products.
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