Organic farming a must for health and commerce

Food adulteration is a major concern in Bangladesh which costs consumers their health and wealth. It is high time focus should be laid on organic farming to protect public health and the posterity alongside exploring overseas market to earn forex, Bangladesh Organic Products Manufacturers’ Association president Md Abdus Salam told the Business Posts’ Abdur Razzak Sohel in an interview. Salam shared his views on the importance of organic food and its current status in the context of Bangladesh.

The Business Post: What role is Bangladesh Organic Products Manufacturers Association playing in ensuring organic food?

Well, Bangladesh Organic Products Manufacturers Association (BOPMA) is the national umbrella organisation for sustainable agriculture and food. It is also the apex body of the environmentally friendly business communities in Bangladesh established in 2008 with an aim to make (1) Environmentally friendly agriculture (2) Environmentally friendly food (3) Healthy nation and (4) Healthy environment above all. Recently, the World Bank has declared $ 25 billion for environmentally friendly agriculture and food. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States has recently surveyed and declared that immunity is the main issue and more effective to fight corona viruses. We can grow, produce and manufacture environmental friendly crops and food easily both for local and global markets. In Bangladesh, we are carrying 9.7 microgram of poison in each gram of blood but it must not be more than 0.2 microgram.

Our Agriculture was absolutely organic from the very beginning but some multinational companies derailed us in the 60s in the name of “Green Revolution” with the keen supports of some so-called agriculturists. They put synthetic, hazardous, harmful and toxic chemical fertilizers and pesticides in our world famous fertile land. Thus, our soil became toxic, and we are producing toxic crops, and are having toxic food. As a result about 2,00,000 people including very innocent children are falling victim to cancer every year. Besides, more than 30 million people are being attacked by cardiovascular diseases, about 30 million catch diabetes, more than 20 million get kidney diseases, and thousands liver diseases, skin diseases and so on.

TBP: We see different advertisements about organic food on the e-commerce and f-commerce platforms. How much do they maintain organic standard?

Food must be safe, halal and nutritious. Some innocent and new entrepreneurs have started organic production and business sincerely by this time and are getting good responses. On the other hand, some big companies import and sell so-called organic products and the customers feel cheated. Our association members are growing crops and producing products following organic standards. Safe food consumption is a human right, plus it has a significant value in the global market. With the rising demand for organic food many entrepreneurs have come to this sector. A handful of traders are selling organic food while most are cheating consumers in the name of organic. It is due to lacklustre monitoring on the part of the authorities concerned. If the authorities are strict, the number of organic consumers will rise as people will find reliance. The government should focus on organic food production to create a healthy nation and explore potential export market.

TBP: When can we call a food organic? What types of criteria do they need to follow for organic farming?

It is quite simple to declare a crop/product organic. For that the land must be free from fertilizer and pesticide for a minimum of three years. In the first year, we can declare the land chemical free, and in second year we can declare it 50 per cent organic, in third year we can make it 80 per cent organic, and in the fourth year we can term it 100 per cent. In addition, we have to keep a ten-metre surrounding area as buffer zone, and that must be chemical-free. All inputs must be organic and irrigation must be safe while seeds must be indigenous and organic. It is very challenging to ensure organic farming, but it can be done if the government really wants so. Due to lack of policy support it is very challenging to ensure safe food. A very few farmers are following the criteria while farming organically.

TBP: Why should people consume organic food?

Food adulteration is a major problem in the country and a big threat to human health. People are unknowingly exposed to a variety of chemicals and formalin that are added to food. Due to this they are suffering from different types of diseases. It is high time they should prefer organic food to non-organic ones to protect themselves as well as the future generation.

There are a lot of benefits of organic farming and food. First and foremost, it gives us a good output. In addition, organic farming gives safe crops which prevent diseases, keeps chemicals out of the air, water, soil and above all our consumption, and protects future generation. Numerous studies have shown that pesticides can adversely affect the nervous system, increase the risk of cancer and decrease fertility.

Besides, organic food always tastes better with actual flavour. They are lower in nitrates and higher in antioxidants than conventional food.

The developed nations have already realised the importance of organic food, but Bangladesh is lagging much behind. In addition, there is lack of campaign on safe food while the authority is also unconscious about organic food. Only those health conscious are turning to organic food and many unscrupulous farmers are cashing in on the situation.

TBP: What is your reflection on the current organic food market of Bangladesh? How is the business going on?

Frankly speaking, the importance of organic food is limited to our discussion, but any action is hardly in sight to make sure that food is being organically produced. The consumers’ interest in organic food is driving entrepreneurship in this sector.

Organic food is now on sale in super shops. Even organic items are being exported to global markets. But the first and foremost thing is that we have to be certain that whatever we are consuming is actually organic.

TBP: It is said productivity declines due to organic farming. What will you say about this?

It is absolutely a wrong idea. Organic farming never reduces production rather it shoots up output if produced organically. Let me give an example. While I cultivated land using fertilizer, I got 20 maunds of output but when I followed organic farming, production went up to 22 maunds. While we use compost, it makes soil fertile with all necessary nutrients that crops need to grow well. We had hundreds of plots using organic manure and pesticides under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture and achieving 15-20 per cent more yield at every plot.

TBP: How much potential does organic food have in the global market?

The current market size of organic food is around $ 1,500 billion. India is earning a significant amount of foreign currency by exporting organic food. Bangladesh is lagging far behind. The only reason being that the authorities concerned are yet to take the issue seriously. Even they are not trying to utilise the market potential. Earlier the EU alerted Bangladesh ambassador to the ban on adulterated vegetables and rotten mangoes exported from Bangladesh to the European Union. I sent a letter to the EU Embassy and they asked me to contact them. Due to the levity of the Bangladesh authorities, I had to suffer a lot to reach the EU authorities and could manage to meet them after frantic efforts. The EU authorities asked me to follow many criteria which are very costly and which would cost nearly Tk 20 to Tk 30 lakh. It is only possible if the government comes forward to help the organic farmers to grow food organically and catch the global market.

TBP: How can we ensure standard organic food in the market?

Consuming organic food is a must to lead a healthy life. Those who consume organic food don’t need to take medicines. It has become very crucial even during the pandemic, but people are having chemical in the name of organic food due to lack of monitoring by the government bodies. We have Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and Consumers Rights Association to regulate food, but their role is hardly being effective. The authorities must come forward to ensure organic food and develop consciousness among consumers on the importance of safe food for a healthy life.