Question

choose a product in the organic or local produce category, and then choose a brand in that category. Describe produce that clearly says it is organic or locally grown on its packaging or signage. What is the product's value? What are the controllable and uncontrollable forces that influence value?

*no existing answer please*

Answer 1

Let’s first understand what is a organic product?

A product is organic when it is produced without using harmful chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Bio-pesticides and bio-fertilizers are used in organic production. This is an environment friendly practices and the product is good for health.

The Indian organic product is certified by two ways. One is ‘Participatory Guarantee System -India (PGS-India) and another is third party certification. PGS is a self certification process by a group of farmers and it is operated by the Department of Agricultural and Cooperation. The PGS is used generally to sell product locally and for export purposes third party certification is preferred. The third party certification is governed by the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) under the ministry of Commerce and Industry. It provides a logo for organic produce and it is identification that the product is organic.

We used Dal (lentil) in daily in our food. Dal is good for health and provides our daily requirement of proteins for our body. If it is chemically grown, it might harmful to our health. Therefore organic produce Dal is very good for us. Looking the potential for the marketing of organic dal, many companies are producing it. The ’24 Mantra’ brand is one of them. The products of 24 Mantra are certified by Indian, US and EU agencies. The product has certification logo of all three agencies on its packaging at the front and it is easily visible. We can be sure that the product is organic if these logos are there. For India, only one logo from NPOP is sufficient.

The cost of organic product are more compare to any local product because it has more production cost. The cost of certification is also added in the final cost of the product. The organic produces have value in terms superior taste, health, concern for the environment, concern over animal welfare etc.

Factors that influence the value of organic products

Controllable

1. Lack of awareness regarding organic products and its health issue
2. No proper branding
3. No certification
4. Use of inorganic/chemical inputs at any stage of production
5. High price

Uncontrollable

1. The entire area is affected by the presence of chemical in the air. It happens when the produce if from high chemical used area.
2. Natural calamity like flood. It contaminated water and soil of organic field.