Mission Statement
"To Achieve Sustainable Rural Development in the State of Uttarakhand through Organic Farming"
Vision Statement
"To Make Uttarakhand the Organic Capital of India"
Background of Uttarakhand Agriculture
It can be safely said that agriculture is the prime occupation of the people of Uttarakhand. Agriculture is largely rain-fed and traditional farming systems like the ‘Barahanja’ (twelve grains grown together and harvested at different times) have sustained man an animal over centuries. Traditional farming systems are highlighted by the use of forest leaf litter for compost making exchange of seeds and indigenous traditional knowledge.
However the mountains terrain, large Forest cover and fragmented holdings have enforced a systems of agriculture that is mainly ‘subsistence’. Due to this marginality, most of Uttarakhand remained untouched by modern agriculture systems. This exclusion in turn, led to the preservation and cultivation of diverse varieties of food grains which are now almost extinct elsewhere.
Subsistence farming not being able to fulfill the needs of the modern family led to large scale migration of able bodied men and a lowered interest in farming among the youth. This led to the female gender slowly morphing into the farmer, the worker and the lead in the family. The sheer need for survival through the extreme climes, has, over the years, generated an almost unique social order in itself- strong and resilient the women of the mountains
‘ Organic Farming is the manifestation of the traditional environment stewardship of the people of Uttarakhand providing a meaningful expression in the form of economic growth.’
The present marginality in the agriculture sector was identified as a essential raw material for diversification into organics where essential interventions could be the driver for change. The net result would be better economic status for the farmers and organics with its multi-dimensional benefits would serve as the custodian for the fragile mountain environs.
Organic agriculture was declared as a thrust area by the State as early as 2001-02 wherein a number of policy decisions were taken, leading to budgetary provision, programs, schemes and institutional support for the farmers as well as other stakeholders.
Uttarakhand Organic Commodity Board
Uttarakhand Organic Commodity Board came in to existence on 19 May 2003. The board was registered under the societies registration act, 1860 and is acting as the nodal agencies to enhance organic activities in agriculture and allied sectors like Horticulture, Medicinal Aromatic Plants & Herbs, Milk Production and animal husbandry throughout the state. The technical and marketing support for the difference activity of UOCB is provided by Centre for Organic Farming (COF) which is a project grant sanctioned by Sir Ratan Tata Trust, Mumbai under Uttarakhand Organic Commodity Board. COF facilitates UOCB by providing Professional, Managerial, Technical Support and effective organizational skill of management of farmers' organization and lead farmers.
Process of Marketing Facilitation from UOCB
For the marketing of the organic produce from UOCB firstly the buyer have to get himself registered with UOCB. After the registration the details of the demand from buyer is being placed to UOCB which further passes it to the concern farmers group or federation for its supply. Then a meet is being arranged between the buyer and the identified farmers group where negotiation on rates and specification of quality of product is discussed and vetted upon by signing of the agreement. UOCB is not involved in the process of rate negotiation but provides guiding prices to both buyers and farmers.
Registration and Service Charge
UOCB is actively involved in the marketing of the organic products from its registered farmers group directly for registered buyers for export as well as domestic market.. UOCB has always stood by her buyers undaunted support and service to the supply
chain. UOCB has limited manpower and budgets to handle multiple buyers and their demand. To enable better service for the supply chain it is now proposed that UOCB registers the buyers and obtain a service charge on the sale of the organic commodities facilitated by him.
Annual registration fees of Rs 1000 is charged from the trade partners. UOCB obtains service charge for the different services provided on the basis of the total invoices generated by the farmers group to the buyers in a financial year. The slabs for the charges are as follows:-
Sr.No |
Slabs |
Service Charge |
1 |
Rs 50000 to Rs 5 Lac |
1 % of the invoice |
2 |
Rs 5 Lac to Rs 15 Lac |
Rs 15000 |
3 |
Rs 15 Lac to Rs 50 Lac |
Rs 20000 |
4 |
Rs 50 Lac and above |
Rs 30000 |
Note: - Order below Rs 50000 are not entitled to the below benefits.
The registration form can be downloaded from our website www.organicuttarakhand.org. Against the registration and the service charge obtained by UOCB the buyer/ traders gets the package of benefits which it can avail time and again, the different benefits are as follows:-
- A free hard copy of AFL ( Approved Farmers List )
- Customized Producers - Buyer Meets and field visits.
- Participation in the Organic Fairs / Exhibitions / Workshops/Seminars on payment/sponsorship basis.
- Support in organizing Consumer Awareness Programs.
- Being invited to conferences meetings and general buyer seller meets.
- Getting information from UOCB Magazines and newsletters
- Distribution of / promotional fliers, brochures.
- Distribution of Display Stands and other literatures.
- No transaction certificate cost will be charged.
- Facilitation and monitoring in the supply of the commodities in terms of travel of the UOCB staff to the supply areas and link with field works and farmers groups.
Brand
- UOCB promotes the brand organic Uttarakhand which secures the interest of the small organic farmers of the state and develops its identity. This brand identify with the mark belongs to all small farmers of the state.
