ORGANIC TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL FRUIT PRODUCTION IN INDIA - PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES

Organic farming is gaining gradual momentum across the world. Growing awareness of health and environmental issues in agriculture has demanded production of organic food, which is emerging as an attractive source of rural income generation. While trends in rising consumer demand for organic products are becoming discernible, sustainability in production of crops has become the prime concern in agriculture development. Worldwide organic agribusiness is expanding fast. Currently the area under organic cultivation is 30.4 million ha and the value of trade has reached US$ 38.6 billion (which was only US$ 18 billion in 2000). Organic products are almost entirely (over 95%) consumed in developed countries. Major producers and importers of organic products are the EU, USA and Japan. Categories of major organic products include fresh fruits and vegetables (non-tropical and tropical), cereals (wheat, rice, corn, maize), coffee, tea, cocoa, spices, herbs, oilseeds, pulses, milk products, honey, meat, edible nuts, semi-processed fruits, etc. Organic agricultural methods are internationally regulated and legally enforced by many nations, based in large part on the standards set by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), an international umbrella organization for organic cultivation established in 1972 (Anon., 2008).