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Haryana to setup Haryana Organic Certification Agency (HOCA)

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Haryana Government has decided to set up an Organic Certification Agency, Haryana Organic Certification Agency (HOCA) At Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CCSHAU), Hisar.

May 25th 2020, Chandigarh: Haryana Government has decided to set up an organic certification agency, Haryana Organic Certification Agency (HOCA) at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CCSHAU), Hisar.

Prof. K.P. Singh, Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University informed that the university has got the society registration under the Haryana Registration and Regulation of Societies Act, 2012 (Haryana Act No. 1 of 2012) and the society will function as  government aided organic certification agency.

Mr. Singh will be the ex-officio President/Chairperson and Controlling Officer of Deendayal Upadhyay Centre of Excellence for Organic Farming (DDUCE-OF) and will be the Member Secretary of the society.

He further informed that the university has initiated the process of getting accreditation of HOCA from Agriculture Produce Export Development Authority (APEDA), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt. of India.

Promoting Organic produce and exports

“Once we complete the formalities for HOCA” said Mr. Singh, “Smooth marketing and export of organic produce from Haryana will be ensured.” HOCA will work in close association with DDUCE-OF. The CCSHAU will strengthen its laboratory and create a new one to render the testing services. Establishment of HOCA will help the organic growers of Haryana to obtain the third party certification in a cost effective and transparent manner. It will also enabling them to sell their produce with certification mark to domestic as well as international market.

          He said that some of the key activities of HOCA and DDUCE-OF would be certification of Organic Farms and Processes according to National and International standards.

       There are two system of organic certification. One is self-certification system (Participatory Guarantee Scheme) but this certification is not effective for export purpose. Second is third party certification which is mostly adopted for export purpose but involves higher cost.

He further said that this step will help the farmers to further improve their status in Haryana by improving their income through Organic farming practices.

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