Organic Agriculture in India
The International Community is increasingly becoming aware that soul of organic farming is Organic Agriculture and its entities. Organic Agriculture is an environmentally friendly, ecologic production system that promotes and enhances Bio diversity, Biological cycles and Biological activities. It is based on the processes of complete mobilization of on farm resources and adoption of management strategies that fully restore and maintain an ecological harmonious system in a sustained status. The principal guidelines for organic production are to use materials and practices that enhance the ecological balance of natural systems and integrate the paths of the Farming system into an Ecological Holistic system.
Organic Agricultural practices cannot ensure that products that are completely free from residues. However, methods are used to minimize pollution of air, water and soil. Organic food handlers, processors, and retailers are motivated to adhere to the National Standards that maintain the integrity of Organic Agricultural Products. The primary goal of Organic Agriculture is to optimize the health and productivity of interdependent communities of living soil, plants and people and the entire Bio system.
Genesis of Indian Society for Certification of Organic Products (ISCOP)
The concept of ISCOP emanated in the thoughts of some of the Agricultural Scientists of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) and Government of Tamil Nadu who held high position in the professional hierarchy, the dire need to introduce basic transformation in the crop cultivation techniques with the view to arrest the damages done to soil, water and the air and entire ecology and environment, consequent to indiscriminate application of synthetic chemicals. The implication of the consumption of such toxic dominated out put on the health of the populace and animals are obvious. This motivation prompted the genesis of ISCOP, which is a Professional body of Agricultural Scientists of multifarious specialization related to certification regime in its entirety. ISCOP was registered under Tamil Nadu Societies of Registration Act 27 of 1975 (No. 006/06-01-2003) on the 6th January, 2003 at Coimbatore.
Our Mission / Services
1) To encourage and promote entrepreneurial formats to strictly follow organic cultivation techniques in crop production and animal husbandry practices consistent with the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) and National Standards for Organic production (NSOP) and International standards prescribed by International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), Germany.
2) To impart training to such farmers/ operators in the art and science of organic agriculture and become eligible for organic certification.
3) To enlarge the scope of Organic certification to all seasonal and horticultural crops in order to ensure production of toxic ingredients free food consumption standards to human population and also animal health.
4) To train suitable personnel as Inspectors and Supervisors to augment expanded coverage of organic certification system.
5) To provide information on certification of Organic Agriculture to farming community and to those interested in animal husbandry and fisheries.
6) To create awareness among consumers on the importance of the certified organic products in the interest of their health and welfare of the environment and bio system.
About ISCOP
ISCOP is an independent nationally functioning/ operating non-profit voluntary organization manned by professionals committed to Organic Agriculture and Certification. ISCOP is developing strong technical collaboration with APEDA, IFOAM, and other Overseas Certifying agencies. ISCOP is engaged in conducting field based inspection of crops and other related enterprises strictly adhering to Organic standards in production and issuance of Scope Certificate. ISCOP gives approval to farms, manufacturing food processing units involved in the production of Organic Inputs such as Organic seeds and planting material, and other bio products adopting National standards stipulated under NPOP. ISCOP is governed by the General Body and day to day management is delegated to a Managing Committee. ISCOP is in line with National Standards for Organic Products, notified under NPOP by Government of India, Voluntary Certificate Scheme for Medicinal Plant Produce, run by the Quality Council of India and NMPB. ISCOP is committed to ensure consumer’s trust in integrity and reliability of its certification marks. ISCOP understands the importance of impartiality in carrying out certification activities, manages conflict of interest and ensures the objectivity of its activities.
Prof. Dr. K.K. Krishnamurthi, Founder, ISCOP B.Sc.(Ag.)., M.Sc.(Ag.)., Ph.D. (Madras Univ.)., MBA (USA). Former Professor & Head, Dept. of Soil Science & Agrl. Chemistry; Dean & Director of Extension Education, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University; Director UPASI Tea Research Institute; Chairman of the Micro-nutrients Evaluation Committee of ICAR; Chairman of the Fertilizer Control Order Updating of Govt. of India; Chairman of several Technical Committees of the State & Central Governments; Chairman & Member of various Committees of Indian Standards Institution, New Delhi, Now Chairman & Managing Trustee, Krishnamurthi International Agricultural Development Foundation; Member of Research Council of TNAU; International Agricultural and Human Resource Development Consultant; Lead Assessor Consultant of ISO 9000 Quality Control Standards and Certification; Member of the High Level Empowerment Committee on Organic Policy Formation of Tamil Nadu Government; Specialized in Soil Science and Agrl. Chemistry Organic Manure; Pollution Control & Environment Consultant Underwent Advanced Training on Setting up Organic Programmes in India organized by APEDA, Govt. of India; Member of the Organizing Committee of the First World Congress on Organic Certification held by IFOAM in Rome; Visited several overseas countries for chairing technical sessions and presenting papers; Recipient of “Bharath Gaurav Award” & “Best Citizen Award”; Homoeopathist: Advanced Pranic & Holistic & Divine Healer: Counsellor, Human Welfare & HRD. Address: 2C, May Flower Meadows, 72, Venkatasamy Road West, R.S. Puram, Coimbatore – 641 002. E-mail: profdrkkk@yahoo.com
Prof. Dr. S. R. Sree Rangasamy, President, ISCOP. B.Sc.(Ag), M.Sc.(Ag), Ph.D., Former Director, School of Genetics: Founder- Director of Centre for Plant Molecular Biology, TNAU, Coimbatore. Dean Basic Sciences and 1st Principal of First KVK In India. After retirement, General manager (R&D) of Hi-Tech Agri. Division, Birla Seeds. Involved in Hybrid research in field and vegetable crops, floriculture establishment. Consultant- Geneticists of Agro Axon and A&D Greece. Presently serving as a Regional Research Director(R&D), Vibha Agrotech Ltd, Coimbatore. Have extensive field based experience in a wide variety of Agricultural and Horticultural crops. Field of Specialization are Cytogenetics of Rice, Banana, Cotton, Pennisetum and Guava. His primary research dimension was on plant tissue culture in Rice and Sorghum, and Micro propagation in Banana and Cardamom. Dr. SRS is a recipient of 14 medals and awards for his meritorious contributions, Had attended 4 national and International conferences, besides being the Director of many Seminars and Conferences. Have to his credit more than 220 scientific papers published in National and International journals. Served as a member of ICAR Research Advisory Committee and member of Academic council of TNAU, Coimbatore. Dr. SRS was a fellow of Indian Society of Genetics (1985), Fellow of National Academy of Sciences (1995) and Research Fellow, American Biographical Institute 2005. Pursuant to his specialization visited more than 16 countries like Philippines, Russia and China and International R&D centre Tokita Mikada and Monsanto. Address: 12, First avenue, New Thillai Nagar, Coimbatore 641 041. Email: sreerang2002@yahoo.co.in
Prof. Dr. V. Prakasam, Vice President & CEO, ISCOP. B.Sc.(Ag), M.Sc.(Ag), Ph.D., Former Professor and Head, Department of Plant Pathology, Centre for Plant Protection Studies, TNAU, Coimbatore. He is recipient of several fellowships, medals and awards: ICAR Junior & Senior Fellowship, Aspee Gold Medal, Rao Saheb N. Murugesa Mudaliar Prize, Dr.A.L. Mudaliar Prize, Sr. S.R.P. Ponnuswamy chettiar Shield and Medal, Shri. P.S. Jivanna Rao Medal, Dr. Puro Medal, Best Under Graduate Teacher Award (1994), ICAR Best Teacher Award (1999), Bharat Ratna Dr.C.Subramanian Award for Out Standing Teacher (2001), Dr.B. B Mundkur Memorial Lecture Award of Indian Phyto pathological Society New Delhi (2011) ans Natsevai Ratna of Valai Siddhar Ahramam, Thiruvannamalai. Has published 11 text books, 120 research papers in National and International journals and chapters for 18 books. Presented 154 abstrated papers were presented in Seminars/ Symposium/ Conferences and Workshops. Operated more than 14 schemes funded by National and International Agencies/ Institutes. The field of specialization are Mushroom cultivation, Horticultural Pathology and Bio control. Developed cultivation techniques for Grey Oyster mushroom, Paddy straw Mushroom and four new mushrooms, including two New Milky Mushroom species. Established Mushroom Theme Park at TNAU, Coimbatore. He is Founder- Chairman of the Mushroom Foundation of India. Have done extensive research of diseases of seasonal and perennial fruit crops including a number of Spices and Condiments. Have reported 15 new diseases in India mainly on spices and fruit crops, Life Member of Indian Phytopathological Society, Indian Society of Mycology and Plant Pathology, Sikkim Science Society, Mushroom Society of India, Society for Bio Control Advancement, National academy of Biological Sciences. Served as South zone President of Indian Phytopathological Society and active Member of the Editorial Board of the Indian Phytopathology. President, Valai Siddar Aanmiga Peravai, Thiruvannamalai. Address: 28-A (New 53), Shanmugaraja Puram, Selvapuram (North), Coimbatore – 641 026. E-mail: prakasamv@gmail.com
Prof. Dr. P. Muthuvel, Secretary, ISCOP, B.Sc.(Ag), M.Sc.(Ag), Ph.D., Former Professor and Head, Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, TNAU, Coimbatore. Published nearly 50 research articles in National and International journals. Attended 16th World Congress of Soil Science held in France during 1998 and presented a research paper. Has served in different capacities in the University assignments. Have to his credit rich experience in the field of sunflower nutrition, dry land agriculture and Water management. Was instrumental for obtaining fellowship for PG programme from Rockefeller Foundation, USA and national Institutions. Life member of Madras Agricultural Students Union, Indian Society of Soil Survey and Land use Planning, Member of National Executive Committee, Indian Society of Soil Survey and Land use Planning 1997-98 and Vice President, Indian Society of Soil Science 2004-2005. Address: 43/20, 3rd cross, Om Ganesh Nagar, Vadavalli, Coimbatore 641041. E-mail:muthuvel1944@gmail.com
Dr. P. Jayaraman, Treasurer, ISCOP Research Scholar in Technology Management, Post Graduate in Business Administration, Certified Project Management Professional and holds a basic degree in Agricultural Sciences. Innovation Explorer – Insight Bio-Ventures, Hyderabad, India. 17 years’ experience in Pharmaceuticals R&D, Bio-processing, Project Management, new technology intervention and Quality. He started Insight Bio-ventures India Private Limited to promote Bio-Pharma, Bio-foods, Organic Products and Life Sciences Innovation based companies through scalable new technologies. Specializes in climate change friendly technologies that replaces existing technologies for sustainable manufacturing and eco-friendly products. Current technology focus includes scientific organic processing, bio-manufacturing, cell based product alternatives, tissue based 3D technologies, nanofibers and bio-informatics. In this endeavour he has incubated 6 companies that commercializes various core technologies in to products. Developed a consortium of scientists and experts that resulted in a repository of scalable technology pipeline for commercialization. Insight Bio-ventures is a result of the effort taken to prospect the technology pipeline. He supports ISCOP as a scientific advisor with organic processing, climate change agriculture and non-
GMO validations. , E-mail:jayaram1976@hotmail.com
IEI Counsel Members: Dr. S Manian, Dr. E. Somasundaram, Dr. R. Murugesan
Scientific Advisory Committee: Dr. K. Rajamani, Botanist, Mr. Karuppusamy, Taxonomist, Mr. Gowtham Palanisamy, FSSAI Advisor, Dr. Prabu Gajjeraman, Chief Technical Officer