Indian Talent, Global Content
|
Indian Talent, Global Content |
Chillibreeze Premium Services: Global companies and consultants |
February 2012: Serving Customers Dec-Jan News |
Should I Buy Organic Food in India?
The generations before us had access to food that was free from contamination. The food tasted great and delivered nutrients to the body. However, today farming techniques have changed to improve production and enhance soil fertility. Modern technology utilizes pesticides, fertilizers and good irrigation facilities. This has led to depletion of soil fertility, accumulation of chemical residues, contamination of ground water and decrease in bio-diversity.
The result is that produce is found to have traces of chemical residues. With many studies and research throwing light on the presence of chemical residues in food, many farmers worldwide have begun adopting natural farming techniques to produce food grains that are free from chemical residue. This technique is widely called organic farming. What is organic farming? Organic farming avoids use of genetically engineered products, synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, plant growth regulators and livestock feed additives. Organic farming strongly believes in enhancing soil health, crop rotation and protecting the environment. Green manure, cover cropping, application of compost and mulching are few techniques employed in organic farming. Studies have shown that organically grown food tastes better and has more antioxidants, essential vitamins and minerals. In India, organic farming and organic food are gradually gaining importance. There are many companies that deal directly with farmers and sell organic food. Though the yield from organic farms is insignificant when compared to the total produce got from modern methods, organic food has made an impact in India. Major bottlenecks for less visibility of organic food in markets include less produce, exports and pricing: the demand for organic food abroad is tremendous and most of the organic food produced in India is exported. Organic produce is always limited as the crop is available at few select places. Most importantly, the produce is seasonal and each variety is grown in regions where the climatic conditions suits the crop the best. The crop is treated with manure and follows crop cycles. Since the produce is limited the price is on the higher side. In the United States, many cities have weekly markets that sell only organic vegetables, fruits and poultry. In India, though many farmers sell their produce as organic, there is a lack of understanding about organic certification. Organic certification is a process that helps consumers differentiate organic food and from other agricultural products. The “Organic certified” logo serves as a product assurance for consumers. Organic certification assures quality and prevents fraud. It helps consumers pick the genuine organic products in the market. The Certification process requires a farm to follow a set of procedures before being labeled as “organic”. A farmer must follow a set of procedures, which includes a detailed study of organic standards, compliance, documentation, planning, inspection, certification fees, and record keeping. A conventional farm must adhere to organic standards for about three years to be certified as an organic farm. During this period, known as the transition period, crops are not considered fully organic. The word "organic" on a food product is intended to protect consumers from misuse of the term, and make buying organics easy. In India, the INDOCERT" offers organic certification as per National Standards for Organic Production, rules equivalent to EEC regulation 2092/91 and USDA NOP. “Impact of Pesticide Use in Indian Agriculture - Their Benefits and Hazards” is an insightful study by Md. Wasim Aktar and M. Paramasivam. The authors have pointed out that a few chemicals used in farms pose potential risk to humans and other life forms and unwanted side effects to the environment. There are reports suggesting that even baby food and milk have pesticide residues. On the other hand, organic foods have a high content of antioxidants, which are known to protect the body from aging and various diseases including cancer, heart and neurological disorders. Organic foods that are bright in colour such as red tomatoes, potatoes, green grapes, bell peppers are a rich source of antioxidants. Under organic cultivation, when plants are under stress from pests, they produce an array of natural chemicals, many of which are antioxidants. These natural chemicals give fruits and vegetables their bright colour and distinctive flavors. Plants on organic farms in course of building their defense mechanisms elevate antioxidant concentrations. Plants on organic farms also tend to grow slower and mature at a smaller size than fast growing, heavily fertilized conventional produce. This helps the organic food retain most vitamins, minerals and antioxidant levels, which are mostly lost in large, fast growing and high yielding conventional crops. Organic cereals and grains are rich in fiber and nutrients. Whole wheat, varieties of rice including brown rice contains fiber and essential oils apart from carbohydrates. Organic whole wheat flour is superior to the conventional variety as it does not have any content of ‘white flour’. Brown rice is rich in bran, unpolished and a good laxative. Organic oils have the right composition of good fats, Vitamin E, beta-carotene and minerals. They have a natural aroma and are free from chemicals. In India major suppliers of organic food include 24 Letter Mantra, Fab India and Godrej’s Nature Basket. It is wise to pick organic food and try to include organic whole wheat flour, oils and rice in our daily diet.
Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in November, 2009. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.
More on Chillibreeze.comRelated links Organic Food in India: Cost vs health
Other popular articles on Chillibreeze How to Use Search Engines
>> Read more articles written by Chillibreeze writers:1. Articles related to Content and Outsourcing
|
Premium Services Products e-Publishing Must Reads...
About Chillibreeze Upgrade Your Writing |
Copyright 2004 - 2011 Chillibreeze Solutions Pvt. Ltd. |
