Back Karnataka to teach children benefits of organic farming
K.V. Kurmanath
Hyderabad, Aug. 31 Children in Karnataka will soon start to appreciate the benefits of using organic farm products. In a bid to popularise organic farm products and farming methods in the State, the Karnataka Government has decided to introduce lessons in the primary and secondary classes from the next academic year.
“We are in the process of preparing the syllabus. The idea is to catch them young and teach them the advantages of making ‘organic’ a way of life,” Dr M. Mallappa, Director of Agriculture (Karnataka), told Busines s Line.
The Department has deputed its senior officials to help the Education Department in preparing the syllabus on issues related to organic farming and products. The new syllabus would be effective from the next academic year.
Certification
With a view to helping the organic farmers in marketing their products, the Government, in association with the Agriculture and Processed Food Products Exports Development Agency, would launch a certification agency in the next few months to test and certify the organic produce.
‘Growing market’
“Of late, market for organic products is on the raise, giving very good prices for the farmers. But, there are some unscrupulous elements faking the non-organic products as organic products,” he said.
Besides harming the interests of the real organic farmers, these elements were duping the consumers with the wrong products. “The upcoming certification agency would address this problem,” he said.
Organic plots
The Government, which has selected 100 hectares in each of the 176 blocks in the State for encouraging organic farming, would continue the experiment for three more years. “After assessing the impact, we will decide on how to go about it,” Dr Mallappa said.
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