Asia's biggest Organic fair at Kochi in Nov

Aiming to provide a common platform for buyers, sellers and other stakeholders in the organic sector, Kerala will be hosting Asia's biggest International Organic trade fair 'BioFach India'-India Organic 2014 at nearby Angamally from November 6-8.
Another major international programme - Global Agro Meet - being organised by the state government, Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) and CII is also being held during this period.
The conference, being held for the first time in the state, is being organised by International Competance Centre for Organic Agriculture (ICCOA), the leading organisation working across the entire value chain of organic agribusiness in association with Nurnberg Messe India (NMI).

The conference is expected to create awareness about organic agri business, best practises in quality and value addition at global standards, ICCOA Executive Director, Manoj Kumar Menon, told reporters here.
Kerala government should support farmers to take up organic farming so that a robust supply chain can be set up, he said, adding, "we are working with 12 state governments, including Kerala".
Farmers would be invited to bring their supplies and buyers from abroad will also be participating.

High quality exhibition from leading companies in organic business, B2B meetings of International buyers and sellers and international conference of organic markets and opportunties will also be held, Sonia Prashar, Director NMI said.

Around 20 buyers from various parts of the country are expected to participate.
By 2015, India's total organic trade will reach Rs 6,000 crore against the present Rs 2500 crore. There are about 9.50 lakh organic farmers in the country, including 10,400 in kerala, mainly producing Coffee, Tea, Cardamom and Spices.
K Prathapan, Director, State Horticulture Mission, Kerala, said as part of the government's plans to make Kasaragod an Organic District, 20-25 groups of farmers are into organic cultivation of fruits and vegetables.
There are plans to start Pesticide analysis residual labs at Thrissur and Kasaragod this year, he said. There is one such lab at Thiruvananthapuram.