The need for state assistance
The basic point about dealing with certification and meeting of various international standards, is of course that it is very expensive. Therefore, almost by definition, it excludes the millions of small cultivators who do not have either the resources  or the knowledge or technical expertise to meet standards or to go through processes of certification., In addition, for all producers, the process itself can be lengthy and quite cumbersome and bureaucratic, creating delays in shipment and often disrupting the distribution process. In general, therefore, it means an increase in costs and therefore possibly in prices.
 
Obviously, there is a critical role for the state in this, in terms of providing both internationally recognized certification and accreditation agencies, and the technical and financial resources for farmers to meet such requirements. Unfortunately, while there has been some attempts, especially through the Bureau of Indian Standards and APEDA, to meet the first role, the second and probably the more crucial role has been mostly neglected or underfulfilled.
 
Thus, agricultural extension services across rural India typically do not provide either knowledge or technical expertise about prevailing national and international standards, nor are they designed to assist farmers in changing cultivation practices to meet these standards. Information about certification and assistance in certification of products is very limited and inefficient, so much so that those few farmers who can afford it take the help of profit-oriented private companies for this. And of course, resources for such activities are not provided to farmers in the form of financial assistance, which puts our cultivators at a clear disadvantage relative to those from other countries with more organised and financially secure systems.
 
There is therefore much that needs to be done in this regard by the government now especially, in order both to protect Indian farmers and to allow them to use whatever opportunities do exist in international markets.

The organic food market and organic labelling
The concept of food quality has changed dramatically in recent years. It now refers not only to the characteristics of the final product, but also to the way in which it is produced, processed and transported. Retailers and importers in developed country markets are applying their own quality standards, which are often more stringent than the national quality regulations. Consumers in developed countries and a few in developing countries have become more health conscious and they have restored spending to greener, healthy and natural foodstuffs. They are willing to spend more on organically produced and labeled products. As a result, farmers in developed countries are encouraged to convert their existing farm into organic farms and are often fully supported with financial incentives and technical assistance.
 
Of course, a basic issue is defining what exactly is meant by “organic farming.” Among the more stringent definitions is that of the US Department of Agriculture,  which has defined it as follows : “a system that is designed and mailed to produce agricultural products by the use of methods and substances that maintain the integrity of organic agricultural products until they reach the consumer. This is accomplished by using, where possible, cultural, biological, and mechanical methods, as opposed to using substances, to fulfill any specific fluctuation within the system so as to: maintain long-term soil biological activity; ensure effective peak management; recycle wastes to return nutrients to the land; provide attentive care for farm animals; and handle the agricultural products without the use of extraneous synthetic additives or processing in accordance with the act and the regulations in this part.”
 
But it is also true that consumer perception on the organic production method may, in certain detailed but important provisions, differ from region to region in the world. That is why both national and international norms for the definition of organic farming and organic foodstuffs become necessary.
 
In many developed countries as well as in some of the higher income developing countries, the sale counters of retail chains and supermarkets have been given special 'green status' to promote and sell organic and natural foods. The organic food processing companies are being nurtured and labelled as environmental friendly companies. This is already a huge market – even in 1997, the size of the US organic food market was valued at $4.2 billion, while the German market was estimated at $ 1.2 billion and that of Japan at $ 2.5 billion. It is also a rapidly growing market all over the world and particularly in the developed countries, as Table 3 suggests. The rapid growth in market estimates by 2000 indicate a much larger market now, especially as the recent food scares relating to the products of “industrial” agriculture and livestock rearing make consumers more willing to pay more to ensure food safety.
 
Further, organically grown food commands higher prices, with premiums for organic products ranging from 10 to 100 per cent. However, it should be remembered that these can disappear when supply increases, especially in those countries with policies to encourage organic farming.
Table 3 >>

Source : Bhagirath Choudhary, "Organic farming: Indian farmers set to go green",NISTADS, 2000
 
Partly because of this growing demand, many countries are in process of developing their own 'organic food' standards and regulations. The US and the European Union have already announced comprehensive National Organic Programs. Japan, Canada and Australia have national standard for organic products in practice since early nineties. New Zealand, Israel and Brazil have almost attained the equivalency status with the standards of the European Union and USA. China, Thailand, South Korea, Philippines, Turkey and Mexico have established credible organic certifying agencies and are on the verge of deciphering organic policy.
 
The major organic products sold in global markets include( in order of importance) dried fruits and nuts, processed fruits and vegetables, cocoa, spices, herbs, oil crops, and derived products, sweeteners, dried leguminous products, meat, dairy products, alcoholic beverages, processed food and fruit preparations. Non-food items include cotton, cut flowers, animals and pot plants.
 
Certain very large organic food markets such as the United States present particular problems for exporters because of the rigid requirements for labelling. In the US products are accepted as “organic” only if they conform to US Department of Agriculture requirements, which are fairly stringent and require certification which can be costly and cumbersome for exporters form poor countries.
 
The process of certification is as follows : A grower or handler seeking organic certification submits an organic farm plan or organic handling plan to a USDA-accredited private or state certification program. The organic plan must detail all current growing or handling methods, and any materials which will be used. The plan must also cover future intentions and improvements to all areas of production. Even growers or harvesters of organic wild crops must develop a plan showing that harvesting practices will not be destructive to the environment or to the future productivity of the crop.
 
The USDA further requires that records of all management practices and materials used in organic production must be kept for five years. In order to be certified as organic, crops must be grown on land which has been free of prohibited substances for three years prior to harvest. Crops grown on land in transition to organic (during the first three years after switching from conventional farming) cannot be labeled as organic. The Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) makes no provision for a USDA-sanctioned "transitional" label.