Amit Shah's Push for 'Bharat Organics': Aiming for Quality and Fair Pricing

Cooperation Minister Amit Shah directed National Cooperative Organic Ltd to bolster quality control and ensure fair pricing for 'Bharat Organics'. Emphasizing organic farming expansion, Shah urged integrating Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies and collaborating with Amul to motivate farmers towards organic practices and promote consumer demand during festivals.

Cooperation Minister Amit Shah has instructed the National Cooperative Organic Ltd (NCOL) to enhance its quality control and establish equitable pricing strategies for its 'Bharat Organics' label, aiming to broaden the reach of organic farming across the nation.

During a meeting with NCOL officials, Shah encouraged the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies to join the organic mission, stressing mandatory quality assessments for all Bharat Organics products. He advocated for fair pricing to incentivize farmers to engage in organic farming.

The ministry, along with NCOL, intends to partner with dairy giant Amul to develop pricing frameworks for organic flour and pulses, designed to appeal to farmers considering a shift to organic methods.

Shah highlighted the importance of establishing a strong supply chain directly linking farmers to consumers, requiring NCOL to adopt rigorous batch-wise testing procedures. The initiative is set to leverage dairy networks to facilitate organic farming adoption among farmers linked to Amul and the National Dairy Development Board.

With an eye on upcoming festivals, Shah also called for intensified promotion of organic products, anticipating increased consumer interest in the context of rising awareness. The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Cooperatives Muralidhar Mohol, Cooperation Secretary Ashish Kumar Bhutani, NCOL leader Minesh Shah, and NABARD Chairman Shaji KV.

(With inputs from agencies.)