Srinagar, Dec 15: Directorate of Agriculture, Kashmir has been authorized as the Regional Council for PGS India Program which will help the farmers to certify their organic produce and ensure their marketing parameters outside Jammu and Kashmir
Speaking about the authorization, Financial Commissioner (ACS) Agriculture production Department JKUT Atul Dullo said Regional council for PGS INDIA PROGRAM is a welcome development and its interventions is going to pave way for Organic Certification of Agricultural Produce of the farmers and will be the key to implement projects related to organic certification in the holistic development of agriculture in JKUT.
The National Centre for Natural and Organic Farming in its meeting of the National Executive Committee of PGS India has authorized Divisional Seed Certification Officer, Directorate of Agriculture, and Kashmir as the Regional Council for PGS India Program.
Pertinent to mention, Regional Council (RC) is ideally floated by State agencies, existing NGOs, Organic Certification service providers of Central and State Governments.
Regional Council is an agency authorized by PGS-NAC to coordinate, monitor and approve certification decisions of Local Group under PGS-India organic Guarantee programme.
Regional Council will impart necessary Training and support to existing and new local groups in procedures and paper work necessary for each farmer‟s organic guarantee. It would also translate and print PGS paper work in local language.
The Regional Council would also confirm that the Local Group Summary Worksheet listing all the farms that are to be Certified Organic is complete and was conscientiously maintained by the group