Organic World Congress Comes to India for First Time

By Tricityews Reporter

Chandigarh 30^th October:- For the first time in 40 years, the Organic World Congress (OWC) is coming to India. This mega event will take place at the India Expo Centre and Mart, Greater Noida, NCR from 9-11 November 2017. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited to inaugurate the 19^th Organic World Congress on November 9, 2017.

Addressing a press conference here today, Dr. Claude Alvaries, Director, Organic Farming Association of India and Umendra Dutt, Executive Director, Kheti Virasat Mission said that the 19^th IFOAM Organic World Congress will write a new chapter to the country’s efforts to encourage agriculture without damaging soils, plants, water, wildlife and people’s health. Around 3,000 organic farmers, scientists, agricultural research agencies, institutions of the Government of India and State Governments, including registered delegates from over more than 110 countries, will take part in the grand event. In addition, Organic trade missions from some 40 countries are attending the trade fair.

They said further that the Organic World Congress will play a critical role in strengthening the world organic farming movement and tilting India’s agricultural policy firmly in the direction of organic farming. Demand for organic farming is steadily increasing in the Hindi-speaking states. A large numbers of farmers will benefit from the 3-day event.

The OWC 2017 is co-organized with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Further official support has come with the participation of The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), the major organic export arm of the Ministry of Commerce, as the Principal Partner of the Congress. Several other Ministries and State Governments are joining the congress as partners including Kerala, AP and Sikkim. The Ministry of Agriculture, Uttar Pradesh, is hosting the event (Greater Noida falls in UP). Chief Minister of Sikkim will attend the event. All other Chief Ministers have been invited for the inauguration. Ministers of Agriculture from Bhutan, Odisha, Kerala and UP have confirmed their participation. Agriculture Minister of Haryana, Om Prakash Dhankar, is also keen to attend the event.

Organic World Congress is a global sammelan dealing exclusively with organic farming. This global event is held once every three years in a different country. The last Congress was held in Istanbul, Turkey in October 2014. India won the bid to host the 19^th IFOAM Organic World Congress against stiff competition from Russia, China and Brazil. The venue of the next OWC will be decided in Delhi on November 13 at the Vishwa Yuvak Kendra, Chanakyapuri.

The other unique aspect of this OWC is the huge effort made by the Indian organisers to bring organic farmers for the first time centre stage at the event. This will lead to a massive exchange of organic agriculture innovations, particularly advanced organic techniques. The event will witness 150 photographic PPTs from organic farmers; 160 papers on scientific research into organic agriculture; 120 presentations from organic traders and business. This year, in fact, the OWC has received more than 300 papers for consideration from scientists across the world.

The venue for the event is being designed by Orijit Sen. The splash of India culture that will envelop the venue will be enjoyed in the form of Indian classical dancers and drummers from the farming community. Besides, he OWC food menu will enable delegates to taste original and traditional Indian foods that they have never tasted in their lives, all organically grown.

Daily visitors do not need to pay any entry charges. The seed exhibition, plus demonstrations of how to generate recipes for living soil (jaivik khad) and other innovations will take place outside the halls, in the open compound of the India Expo and Mart, and will be free and open to the general public. The entry to the state and commercial (BIOFACH) pavilions is also free.