Taking Over Program

After completion of the DASP in March 2004 the Organic Basmati Production Program was adopted by Uttaranchal Organic Commodity Board and was renamed Organic Basmati Export Program (O.B.E.P.).

Progress of O.B.E.P.

Since from the inception of organic basmati production program there has been a significant increase in the number of farmers and increase in area under organic cultivation. The details are depicted in the table here under :

Seed Program

To provide the pure traditional Dehradooni Basmati paddy seed village Tilwadi, Sahaspur (Swarna Valley) has been identified which is traditionally involved in conservation of traditional variety. 14 ha land has been taken up for production of traditional Basmati seed. This program has been initially supported by the COF -1 program. The Taraori basmati seed program has been developed on a 2.4 ha land area in the Kashipur block of Udham Singh Nagar.

Production

Total 3600 tons Organic Basmati paddy is produced in both the areas in Kharif-2008.

Certification

The basmati program has been developed for the export market since the inception. Internationally accredited agencies for the certification have been collaborated for the same. Presently USSOCA is a label accepted all over Europe and USA has been contracted.
Cost calculation of the cost of the certification for the export markets figured at Rs 425 per farmer in year 2004, as the ICS of the UOCB has matured, the percentage of the number of inspections has reduced from the 60 -40%, costs have further been brought down to Rs 240 per farmer per year.

Crop Cutting and Documentation of Basmati

The now established R&D cell of COF initiated a crop cutting and documentation exercise for the basmati program in the two districts namely Udham Singh Nagar and Dehradun. Data were generated by close observation of the paddy during the harvest in terms of production, weight of the grain, straw index, soil change in organic fields in the last three years etc. The detailed report will be made available in separate publication and in the Internet. The average yield of Trawari Basmati (Udham Singh Nagar) and Dehraduni Basmati (Dehradun) were recorded 23.5 qtl per ha. and 24 qtl. per ha. respectively in year 2008.

Projection for Kharif 2009-10

In coming Kharif season 2009-10 it is proposed to increase area atleast double of present area. In this, continuously new area registration program is being carried out by field officers and service providers of respective blocks. As per responsibility received by extension officers from farmer it is assumed that area under organic basmati export program would be increased upto 2000 ha in karif 2009-10.

From this Kharif year, it is also proposed that Nainital be taken under organic Basmati Export program. Under O.B.E.P. Future Expansion program one major point of standardization of quality has to be taken under consideration so that produce of each individual should be listed. Therefore to standardize the quality POP and quality specification of Basmati as per buyer has been developed and distributed to the farmer in the first phase of field level training for quality organic basmati production.