“Certification Isn’t Hard—Understanding It Is What Matters”

In an interview with ResponsibleUs, Ravdeep Kaur, an agriculture expert, explains the core challenges farmers face today, why organic certification feels complicated, and what young people should know when they step into this sector.

Excerpts:

As an expert in the agriculture sector, how do you describe the current state and challenges?
Agriculture covers everything from production to harvesting and then further reaching out. At its core, it is a way of life and the primary livelihood for almost 70–75% of India’s population. It has always been the backbone of the nation. After working in agriculture for more than 25 years, and coming from a farming family myself, I can say the sector has always operated under limited resources and continuous challenges. These challenges affect millions directly.

One of the largest problems remains market access. Farmers lose money as a result of their access to market information in a timely manner, economies of scale and specifications as per market requirements. These issues can be resolved with the help of consistent and localised extension outreach. A considerable number of farmers remain cut off from technical knowledge or modern best practices. Their exposure is further restricted by their distance from cities. Smallholders with less than two hectares of land make up the bulk of the farmers we work with. It becomes critically important to ensure that the knowledge or information reaches far-flung areas in time. However, getting to them requires very intensive and ground-level extension work.

This is why a strong extension and outreach system from the government is essential. Agriculture does not work on assumptions; it requires technical, timely and locally relevant guidance. Without continuous engagement, farmers depend on traditional knowledge or peer advice, which may not always match current climatic and economic realities. India has the world’s largest farmer base, but most of them still operate with limited scientific support and inadequate risk protection.

Additionally, the situation has been such that by now, change in climate has taken over as the main challenge. Among these, loss of production is the most direct impact of irregular monsoons, increased temperature, unseasonal rains and more extreme weather events taking place frequently. Moreover, some factors such as soil degradation, reduction in groundwater, shrinking of landholdings, increasing input costs, and poor post-harvest handling are putting more pressure on yields. Inadequate warehousing in many states is causing either spoilage of products or distressed sales. Besides, there are also farmers who do not have access to reliable procurement systems. All these issues together define the agriculture sector today.

Yet, despite these problems, farmers continue to produce. They adapt, adjust and survive. 

Even after growing organic crops, why is it so hard to get certification to sell them? What makes the process challenging?
The challenge in this sector is a lack of awareness at all levels, including consumers; most people don’t know how the system actually works. India already has a proper structure for organic certification under the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP). It was set up in 2002 and lays down clear rules for how organic farming should be done. These rules are not just for crops but also for animal husbandry, fisheries, honey, silk, etc. NPOP defines standards for process certification regarding the production, processing & marketing of organic produce. This system is somewhat complicated for consumers to understand; however, it is equally important that they know & are aware of the basics. 

The Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is the apex authority that is responsible for the implementation of NPOP in India. It grants accreditation to the certification agencies and makes sure the standards are maintained. Certification refers to the entire production process, not just the end product. Without getting certified, one cannot access the high-priced markets in India or abroad. The NPOP has achieved significant visibility and acceptance worldwide, mainly in the EU & USA. The conformity assessment system under NPOP was considered equivalent in several markets outside India. This meant NPOP-certified organic products from India could enter the EU and US markets without additional certification. That is a major achievement. Not too sure about the current status, as such an arrangement requires continuous renewal.

APEDA also created TraceNet, an online traceability system. It records every step — from farm to warehouse to processing to export. This ensures transparency and improves the efficiency of the value chain. At the operator level, certification under NPOP is valid for one year and must be renewed annually. If produce moves from the farm to a warehouse to an exporter, the chain of custody must be maintained. Every operator handling the produce must be certified. This is where many farmers feel it becomes complicated. Whereas, if all stakeholders are adequately informed/trained, it’s not complicated. 

However, integrity is part of the system's architecture. Avoiding chemicals is just one aspect of organic farming; another is demonstrating that the entire process is chemical-free and traceable. For this reason, certification is important. Although many farmers are unaware of them, government programmes are also available to assist farmers with certification expenses.

Therefore, although farmers believe the procedure takes a long time, once they understand it, it is not difficult. The bigger challenge is awareness and training.

Is there yield loss during organic farming? Is it a myth or a fact?
Yield depends on several factors — the agro-climatic zone, soil condition, the farmer’s ability to adopt practices and the crops grown. Some regions naturally suit organic farming. MP, Rajasthan, hilly regions and tribal belts already have soil conditions that support organic production. When Rajasthan's organic movement began in the early 2000s, yields were observed to rise in a number of locations due to an improvement in the soil's organic matter.

However, Punjab and Haryana have different circumstances. Input-intensive farming has been practiced by local farmers for a number of years. When they shift suddenly to organic, yields drop initially because the soil has to recover. Organic farming is not about feeding the plant directly. It is about feeding the soil. Once soil health improves, yields stabilise. It usually takes three to five years for land to fully shift to organic. The problem is that farmers can’t afford to lose even one season of production — their margins are already very thin. That’s why many of them hesitate. Switching feels risky when there is no assured market, no premium price and no support during the transition. Organic farming depends not only on good practices but also on the larger system around it. Where farmers get premium prices, they adopt. Where they don’t, adoption is slow.

What is your overall message for students or young professionals trying to understand agriculture better?
Agriculture is not a simple sector. It is layered, diverse and constantly changing. Anyone trying to understand it must look at it holistically — from soil to climate, technology to market, policy to farmer psychology. Theory alone doesn’t help unless you combine it with ground experience.

The sector has the possibility of thriving, but it requires a lot of things such as better knowledge systems, more powerful farming and other practices, direct market access, digital technologies, and fair profits for farmers. When these gaps are filled, agriculture can be both profitable and sustainable. Every individual involved in the study or job of this sector must realise that agriculture is not just an economic activity; it is life for millions of people.

Working directly with farmers on the ground is the only way to reach out to small holders, communicate regarding improved practices and disseminate timely knowledge. Don’t hesitate, go out there and work in the Rural Areas of India.