| In most developed countries the organic food | | | | coupled wih the risk against pests and diseases an |
| market is below two per cent of the total food | | | | organic farmer can not risk losing his organic |
| market, but growing rapidly. Global retail sales of | | | | status by using chemicals to fight pests and |
| organic products, which were valued at US$ 25 | | | | dieases so even if the losses are heavy the |
| billion in 2003 are currently worth US$31 billion and | | | | farmer has to bear it. The only consolation for |
| growing at over 20 per cent per annum ( | | | | the farmer can not risk losing his organic status |
| compared to about 3 per cent growth rate of the | | | | by using chemicals to fight pests and diseases, so |
| food market overall) | | | | even if the losses are heavy the farmer has to |
| Popular organic products | | | | bear it. The only consolation for the farmer is the |
| Cereals, staples (rice and wheat) coffee, cocoa, | | | | lower cost of organic inputs with reference to |
| vegetables, fruits, species, pickles, jams and | | | | chemical inputs and organic prices ranges from 15 |
| bakery products. | | | | to 50% of conventional prices. Another issues is |
| Shortage for organic foods | | | | the high cost of organic certification, higher |
| Organic products are facing a major shortage and | | | | operation costs and lower volumes because of |
| one of them was red chillies, which experienced a | | | | high cost processing. |
| major scarcity all over the world. This is because | | | | Yet another problem is the transportation and |
| the area under cultivation of organic crops was | | | | storage. Unlike conventional products that can be |
| not that high. Conversion of land from chemically | | | | procured from the nearest producers, certified |
| grown to organic cultivated crops takes one to | | | | organic products may have to be trucked over |
| three years because of factors strigent | | | | large distances. Small volumes increase the per |
| certification process, assessment of the products | | | | unit cost of transport by many times the cost of |
| by the certifying agencies, soil tests, transaction | | | | full truckloads. An inherent problem in organic |
| certificates for traders for every consignment | | | | foods is that the godowns and cargo it can not |
| regardless of quantity of product from the | | | | be fumigated or sprayed with chemicals to control |
| farmers which is also carried out by the certifying | | | | pests. Hence continuous manual cleaning along with |
| agency, informed experts. | | | | carbon dioxide treatment and vacuum is |
| Hassles for organic food growers | | | | undertaken. Cold storage is also not |
| Coming to the issue of Organic foods being | | | | recommended for loss of natural values , stated |
| expensive, experts pointed out that lower yields | | | | the experts. |
| during the first few years of organic cultivation, | | | | |