What we do
FPO (Farmer Producer Organisations) Companies
ICCOA is empanelled as the Resource Institute (RI) since 2013 and is working in 11 states to facilitate formation of FPOs.
In 2020, Government of India announced in the Union Budget a scheme for formation and promotion of 10,000 new FPOs by 2024-25. Post this, we have expanded to newer states and working with agencies like NABARD, NCDC, and Karnataka’s Watershed Development Department (WDD) and a World Bank-funded project in Assam.
ICCOA assists with the formation of FPOs, business planning, and functioning in a phased manner so that there is effective production management and post-harvest management.
Organic Conversion
We are working across 24 states of India and have helped over 2 lakh farmers convert 1.30 lakh hectares of farmland into certified organic. We work in association with Central and State Governments, leveraging Government schemes to help farmers convert to organic methods of cultivation and get certification. We provide them training in organic farming methods such as on-farm inputs, crop production, natural pest and disease control, etc.
New projects in 2022 under different schemes
⦁ PKVY scheme (7000 ha across 7 districts) & Aspirational District (200 ha in 2 districts) in Bihar
⦁ PMU (Project Monitoring Unit) under NRLM (National Rural Livelihoods Mission) to oversee and coordinate with 13 states
⦁ SRLM
Karnataka – 3 districts viz. Gadag, Tumkur, and UK
Maharashtra – selected, signing MOU in May 2022
Madhya Pradesh – shortlisted, allocation is awaited
⦁ Jharkhand – organic conversion of 7800 ha in 2 districts
FPO (Farmer Producer Organisations) Companies
ICCOA is empanelled as the Resource Institute (RI) since 2013 and is working in 11 states to facilitate formation of FPOs.
In 2020, Government of India announced in the Union Budget a scheme for formation and promotion of 10,000 new FPOs by 2024-25. Post this, we have expanded to newer states and working with agencies like NABARD, NCDC, and Karnataka’s Watershed Development Department (WDD) and a World Bank-funded project in Assam.
ICCOA assists with the formation of FPOs, business planning, and functioning in a phased manner so that there is effective production management and post-harvest management.
Market Development
We realised organic farming is sustainable to the farmers only if proper market linkages are built. In 2005, we started a national level India Organic Trade Fair. We held this annual fair every year. In 2009, Nurnberg Messe of Germany which organises the world’s largest organic trade fair, collaborated with us in India and Biofach India together with India Organic started. The annual event was regularly held in various cities – Bangalore, Delhi and Kochi.
Organics & Millets Trade fairs: We were knowledge partners to the Government of Karnataka and jointly organised the first National Organics and Millets Trade Fair in 2017. In 2018 and 2019, it grew to a much larger and international event.
Capacity Building
Trainings and workshops on the ground for the farmers are an essential part of our programme in the field. Additionally, we conduct workshops, national and international seminars.
We organised workshops on organic agriculture and agribusiness, formation of FPOs, preparation of organic inputs and other subjects. We have developed standardised training modules with the help of ground staff and experts on the subject.
Organic Farming, Certification & Marketing Training Modules
Crop Management
Soil Nutrient Management
Pest and Disease control
Certification and ICS maintenance
Marketing Techniques
Animal Husbandry
FPO Management & Accounting
Farm Documentation
Primary and Secondary processing of farm produce
Crop specific Package of Practices
Standards and Quality Assurance
Organics are valued and respected for its integrity. Currently in India, organics are identified by two methods of certification like Third Party Certification (by accredited Certification Bodies) or PGS Participatory Guarantee Scheme. Third party certification is mandatory for exports, while PGS certification is for tapping the domestic markets.
ICCOA has developed a new label as an additional quality assurance for organic produce. Consumers look for reassurance and integrity when they purchase an ‘organic’ product. While certification is mandatory for declaring a product ‘organic’ they are being trusted less due to some fly-by-night operators in the industry. ICCOA Organics is used on products coming from its own farm, associated farmer groups and other retailers/ brands following certain protocols.
Policy & Advocacy
We realized early on the need for a robust policy framework with its experiences in Karnataka. It was the first state in India to formulate the Organic Farming policy in 2004. Bengaluru earned the tag of ‘Organic capital’ of the country. We work closely with the Central and State Governments to bring in our experiences from the field to advocate for pro farmer and organic farming friendly policies.
Sikkim’s Journey – First Fully Organic State
In 2009-10, Govt of Sikkim invited ICCOA and a few experts to help the state prepare a policy as well as a road map for making Sikkim the first province in the world to become ‘100% Certified Organic’. ICCOA also brought in the internationally famed FiBL, Switzerland, with its Executive Director Dr Urs Niggli himself coming to Sikkim for this meeting with the Chief Minister, Mr Pawan Chamling.
Later IFOAM Organics International, Germany, IFOAM Asia, South Korea and many others joined the movement. Sikkim was on its way to national and international fame.
The roadmap was a phased plan to convert entire state with over 76,000 ha to become certified organic in eight years, from 2010 to 2018. On 18 January 2018 India’s Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi declared Sikkim as the first state to be fully certified organic. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation declared Sikkim as the world’s first 100 per cent organic state.
“The Government has announced a new national agriculture export policy to support export of organic products. The policy has been made jointly by the ministries of commerce, agriculture, and food processing. India produces around 600 million tonnes of agricultural as well as horticultural products, yearly. The new agriculture policy has been revealed with the vision to double the farmers’ incomes and boost the share of agricultural exports from the current Rs 2.2 trillion ( $30 billion) to over Rs 4.4 trillion ($60 billion) by 2022.”
– Suresh Prabhu, Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Govt. of India
Research and Technology
We focus on applied research and market studies. Some of our studies we did were development of product manufacturing technology, economic sustainability of organic farming; identifying suitable green manure system for organic cotton/other crops; developing package of practices for rejuvenating soils and waste lands; package of practices for location; and season specific crop and technology package for organic animal husbandry.
In 2018, we did a Study of NER and its focus products for Exports.GIZ commissioned a project to identify the best prospects for organic produce in the North-East region, the expert potential for each crop and markets.
We have also conducted market surveys for organic foods, focusing on consumer behaviour and crop specific market research.
Consultancy and Collaboration
We have built strong partnerships with international institutions and forums working in the organic segment for studies, trade fairs, exchange programmes and knowledge sharing. ICCOA has led several high-level delegations comprising government officials and ministers, business representatives, farmer leaders and others to represent the Indian organic sector at international platforms. These countries were Germany, Switzerland, South Korea, US, Ghana, UAE and China.
ICCOA has been on the Board of IFOAM Asia and has participated in meetings and deliberations of Asian Regional Organic Alliance, IFOAM General Assembly, Goesan International Organic Expo and Industry Fair. We have led teams from different states in India to participate in Biofach World Fair and to FiBL (Federal Institute of Biologie) in Switzerland which is held every year.
Mr. Manoj Menon, Executive Director is a founding board member of IFOAM Asia, formed in 2012 and headquartered in South Korea
Our experience of working with all groups in the organic sector has helped us build expertise and a diverse resource pool. We provide consultancy services in the spheres of supply chain management, institutional strengthening, business development, brand building and management. We offer these services to farmer groups, private companies, voluntary organisations and entrepreneurs.
Few of the assignments:
SIPPO hired ICCOA for an audit to select organic start-ups in India. We coordinated and organised a buyers’ mission to India to promote exports of organic products.
In 2007, Oxfam assigned research study on “market potential for organic produce
- Sri Lanka: The ministry of agriculture, government of Sri Lanka, invited the Executive Director to Sri Lanka for a 10-day visit in 2011. The Executive Director conducted a workshop on developing policy on organic agriculture and domestic marketing strategy for Sri Lanka.from Gujarat”. The research study helped in linking the organic farmers of the Kutch region to markets.
- Nepal, Thailand and Malaysia: Our experts were invited to these countries for providing expert guidance and technical know-how pertaining to organic agriculture and agribusiness. ICCOA organised a workshop for officers from Thailand in India and introduced the delegation to Indian government, especially APEDA and Ministry of Agriculture.
- Bhutan: The ministry of agriculture in Bhutan approached ICCOA for a long-term collaboration on organic agriculture. A delegation also participated in India Organic fair.
- Tibet Organic: In 2010, ICCOA undertook a study to evaluate and improve the organic program for the Federation of Tibetan Cooperatives in India Ltd. We, along with an expert analysed the challenges faced by the federation and drew up a strategy paper to revitalise organic agriculture in Tibetan settlements and develop new markets for their produce.
Collaborations:
ICCOA has associated with international organizations FiBL, IFOAM, SIPPO, Nurnberg Messe (BioFach), FAO, CBI, UNCTAD, etc.; and within India with the National Centre of Organic Farming, APEDA, Ministry of Food Processing, State Governments, Agriculture Universities, NAFED, CII, organic farmers, processors, traders etc.
ICCOA has a long term agreement with Nurnberg Messe, Germany to co-organise “Biofach India together with India Organic” annual trade fairs.
Consultancy and Collaboration
We have built strong partnerships with international institutions and forums working in the organic segment for studies, trade fairs, exchange programmes and knowledge sharing. ICCOA has led several high-level delegations comprising government officials and ministers, business representatives, farmer leaders and others to represent the Indian organic sector at international platforms. These countries were Germany, Switzerland, South Korea, US, Ghana, UAE and China.
ICCOA has been on the Board of IFOAM Asia and has participated in meetings and deliberations of Asian Regional Organic Alliance, IFOAM General Assembly, Goesan International Organic Expo and Industry Fair.
We have led teams from different states in India to participate in Biofach World Fair and to FiBL (Federal Institute of Biologie) in Switzerland that is held every year.
Mr. Manoj Menon, Executive Director is a founding board member of IFOAM Asia, formed in 2012 and headquartered in South Korea
Our experience of working with all groups in the organic sector has helped us build expertise and a diverse resource pool. We provide consultancy services in the spheres of supply chain management, institutional strengthening, business development, brand building and management. We offer these services to farmer groups, private companies, voluntary organisations and entrepreneurs.
Few of the assignments:
SIPPO hired ICCOA for an audit to select organic start-ups in India. We coordinated and organised a buyers’ mission to India to promote exports of organic products.
In 2007, Oxfam assigned research study on “market potential for organic produce Sri Lanka: The ministry of agriculture, government of Sri Lanka, invited the Executive Director to Sri Lanka for a 10-day visit in 2011. The Executive Director conducted a workshop on developing policy on organic agriculture and domestic marketing strategy for Sri Lanka. from Gujarat”. The research study helped in linking the organic farmers of the Kutch region to markets. Nepal, Thailand and Malaysia: Our experts were invited to these countries for providing expert guidance and technical know-how pertaining to organic agriculture and agribusiness. ICCOA organised a workshop for officers from Thailand in India and introduced the delegation to Indian government, especially APEDA and Ministry of Agriculture. Bhutan: The ministry of agriculture in Bhutan approached ICCOA for a long-term collaboration on organic agriculture. A delegation also participated in India Organic fair. Tibet Organic In 2010, ICCOA undertook a study to evaluate and improve the organic programme for the Federation of Tibetan Cooperatives in India Ltd. We, along with an expert analysed the challenges faced by the federation and drew up a strategy paper to revitalise organic agriculture in Tibetan settlements and develop new markets for their produce. Collaborations ICCOA has associated with international organizations FiBL, IFOAM, SIPPO, Nurnberg Messe (BioFach), FAO, CBI, UNCTAD, etc.; and within India with the National Centre of Organic Farming, APEDA, Ministry of Food Processing, State Governments, Agriculture Universities, NAFED, CII, organic farmers, processors, traders etc. ICCOA has a long term agreement with Nurnberg Messe, Germany to co-organise “Biofach India together with India Organic” annual trade fairs.Jaivik India Awards
In 2018, ICCOA introduced ‘Jaivik India Awards’ in recognition of the efforts and contributions in taking forward the cause of the
organic sector. The award ceremony was held along with the Organic & Millets International Trade Fair in Bangalore. The second edition of Jaivik India Awards was held in New Delhi in 2019
Awards for best Organic Farmer/ Farmers Organisation were conferred to:
- Six farmers selected from three different regions of India-Two farmers per region received cash awards and felicitation
- State Government/ Government agencies: 3 State Governments awarded for their organic programmes and support for organic farmers in the state
- Best Certification Agency/ Body (accredited by APEDA): 1 award
- Best Company in marketing of Organic Millets: 2 awards
- Best Company with Direct Farmer linkages: 2 awards
- Best Company with Direct Farmer linkages: 2 awards
- Best Companies for Outstanding Performance in Organic Exports: 2 awards
