Ms. AnneSophie Poisot, FAOR (a.i.) speaks on organic and sustainable agriculture at the 2nd wellness and krishi expo 2018
Ms. AnneSophie Poisot, FAOR (a.i.) spoke at the 2nd wellness and krishi expo 2018 on the theme of "Innovative markets and local food systems for sustainable and organic agriculture". The session was attended by eminent personalities such as Ms. Vandana Shiva, Environmental Activist, Author and Founder, Navdanya among others.
Ms. Poisot spoke of institutional innovation, marketing innovations and research and innovations to boost organic agriculture in India and gave example from all over the world, where FAO has collaborated with governments, organizations to ensure sustainable organic farming.
Institutional innovations would help bring together food systems actors that had not traditionally worked together and would redefine “sustainable” practices at local level.
Innovation in production and research should focus on specific technologies and farmer led experimentation using national and internatyional knowledge to promote organic or sustainable agriculture.
Innovation in marketing begins with grassroots entrepreneurial activities to resolve a community concern. The Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) practices enforces rules and brings about a change wherein the community creates a protected space to market their products within the local communities.
Some of the issues that need to be addressed for boosting organic and sustainable agriculture in India are as follows:
1. Multiplicity of standards and terminologies
2. Harmonization between PGS and NPOP
3. Develop institutional procurement
To support organic farming in India, some of the policy recommendations were:
•Promote interactive learning to create and spread knowledge where farmers have multiple roles.
•Public support to strengthen farmers’ capabilities in strategic market negotiation.
•Support communication and trust relationships between farmers, intermediaries and consumers by financing innovative, multi-stakeholder participatory projects in research, tourism, community development and education.
•Scale-up and legitimize innovative initiatives through policy & regulatory frameworks and recognition of ongoing initiatives.