Organic foods, as its name suggests, organic - right from the grass root level. They are grown without the use of preservatives, pesticides, insecticides and other chemical components or synthetic substances. As a result, organic cuisine is healthy, safe and highly nutritious. Organic farming, for domestic consumption and exports, is one of the biggest industries today. Approximately 1.4 million farmers worldwide, with a total of 35 million hectares are engaged in organic farming. As at March 2010, India has registered more than 4.4 million hectares of organic farmland. In the early 1990s, a company called Organic India Organic farming methods to a set of farmers who witness to their crops fall prey to the negative effects of chemicals used in the soil. India now has over 44,000 certified farms are reaping the benefits of the domestic as well as the export demand. In 2010, the organic market is estimated at 129.3 million dollars. The first organic shop Greenway opened in Mumbai in India in 1997 and began a trend that is here to stay. The domestic demand, followed by the execution of orders for organic food has grown continuously, India and soon became one of the largest market for organic food in the world.
"India organic food since the beginning of time. This should only be to a new level. Our local Indian cuisine itself is a great unique selling proposition (USP), providing new opportunities for the new generation. The customers are more aware, more selective and more health conscious, who automatically ask for a healthier kitchen, "says Kamlesh Barot, Director, Hospitality VIE. History India has always been an agricultural country and organic farming in existence here for thousands of years. Traditionally, India organic techniques for agriculture, which served as the backbone of the economy before British rule. In the 50s and 60s, when confronted with famine, free India was forced to carry food grains and to increase food production as well. As a result, chemical farming in the country was established.
The increased dependence on chemicals she eventually adversely affect the country. It began to lose its fertility, leading to an increased demand for synthetic fertilizer to the land keeping reap benefits. The increased costs as a result of these imperatives, leading to a gradual shift back to organic farming.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, cultivated guidelines known as the National Programme for Biological production schemes, assessments and certifications, the authenticity of the products. Certification agencies are set up as well to monitor and to supervise the farmers and their lands to ensure their adherence to the stipulated standards. They also easily identifiable logos among customers increased security. The challenges "Organic food has all the advantages. As it is healthy and safe, people prefer organic food to eat, it pulses, spices or vegetables. But the cost factor in selecting people for fear it. Certified organic foods is more expensive by as much as 50 to 100 percent. Another problem is credible certification. A lot has been said that food is organic, when it is not, "said Kamal Meattle CEO, Paharpur Business Centre. The past few years have seen a gradual increase in the demand for organic food, especially due to a better educated clientele who understand and embrace a healthier lifestyle. But still the market for organic food as a very niche one. A few years ago when India 70,000 acres of organic farmland registered, only one percent of the Indian population took to complete it. This may because of the price difference between organic and mainstream kitchen or skepticism on the consumer's part was, as far as the authenticity of the product. Organic food is priced at nearly 25 percent more than non-organic equivalent. These prices are mainly due to the process of obtaining the necessary certification for an organic farm to ensure authenticity, along with a year of intensive farming to the country invests in an organic suitability to convert. Moreover, labor, land and care needed to organic crops, as well as the high price for the necessary certification to grow, contribute to the cost. The burden is borne by customers. The dismissal of the common faith customers have very heavy price for organic kitchen, Manjunath PR, Managing Director, Lumiere Organic Restaurant stated that the price difference between organic and non organic food significant sounds when the numbers are shown separately, but completely A meal price difference is not as high as people believe it to be. "According to our logistics, the cost of most of the raw materials is 30 percent, 50 percent of dry fruits, legumes and 10 to 20 percent higher than their non-organic counterparts. But if you look at a pound of organic rice, the cost would not exceed R 10 above, for a family meal will not have much of a cost burden, "he revealed to Manjunath.
In 2010, the nation recorded 4.4 million hectares of certified organic farmland.In 2008-2009 was 18.78 lakh tonnes of certified organic products produced, of which 54,000 tonnes of food items exported. But in the domestic market, demand for organic food is to the heights. Even the number of organic restaurants shows over the years has declined, although the kitchen with a bang in the industry. Various organic restaurants have switched to serving mainstream cuisine or discontinue their services, including the much acclaimed organic restaurant Pure at Taj Lands End, Mumbai, a part of Indian Hotels Company (IHCL).
"An organic food operation in the hospitality industry to run, is difficult in India due to the lack of easy availability, proper infrastructure and the client's confidence in the product. Although there are several certified organic farmers, they are notgeographically close to most major cities. There is no proper infrastructure for the production of organic food products. In addition, customers are able to believe in the authenticity of the product or even the authenticity of the certification for it to sit. If these issues are resolved, it would have been easier and more profitable to an organic restaurant and the popularity of the region will automatically be increased with an increase in the available options for the kitchen to perform, "said Manjunath. Speaking on the subject, Amol Nirbhan, Business Development Manager, said ECOCERT, "The restaurants that rely on organic food sales must prove that the raw material obtained is indeed certified organic, the menu they prepared form the certified organic ingredients, etc.. Ecocert guidelines are designed to these important matters to consider, but the response by this industry is still very low. "
"Although the service is the main purpose of the hospitality industry, the profits equal attention. There is a distinct lack of passion for organic food, possibly due to the fact that it is not yet as highly profitable as mainstream restaurants. We is also a problem in identifying genuine organic products and farmers, especially because of the lack of logistics for the same, "says Manjunath. Advantages and limitations of organic food industry
Benefits • Health consciousness and greater awareness among consumers • Available government assistance • Large market for exports
Restrictions • High prices for products • difficulties and heavy costs incurred by farmers for cultivation and certification • Lack of confidence in the authenticity of the products
The market today According Nirbhan "India is definitely emerging as both a production and consumption country for organic food. In the next five years, the population in major cities in India an easy access to certified organic fruits, vegetables, milk, ghee etc. it against an affordable cost. "
"In India we have access to all organic food ingredients, including spices and condiments, our organic cooking to a whole new level. At our founding Revival Indian Thali in Mumbai, one of the most popular dishes is a basic khichdi, showing that even the simplest meals are delicious organic cuisine due to its light weight and health benefits. Most of our clients are those who are aware of the benefits of organic food, such as those trans-fat foods cholesterol problems, etc.. The industry is dependent on the suppliers of raw materials to escape and as we market this claim in abundance, there is an expected increase in demand as well, "said Barot.
According to Jackie Lobo, Executive, down to earth, an organic food store across India, there is a definite increase in demand in the market for organic food. Customers are more aware and more buying power, and they have the price difference between organic and non-organic food items, used to be a problem in the previous year to set upon. Among the middle and upper segments of society, the consumers to insist on organic food material, which is a clear indication of its gaining popularity.
Talk about the future of the organic food industry Meattle opined, "According to newspaper reports, India currently exports an estimated 500 million dollars worth of organic farming and gardening products and products. It can be increased to several fold. The global organic food industry continues an unprecedented growth path with sales expected to reach 100 billion dollars this year to cross. As by experts, is in the remote inland parts of rural India's agricultural land untouched by the excesses of chemicals and fertilizers for the poor and marginal farmers can not afford fertilizer. This led to such soil untouched by pesticides and fertilizers and can at the time to organic farming. "
No comments:
Post a Comment