FOREWORD

Organic agriculture performs multiple functions. It is an important tool for achieving Green Productivity in agriculture and mitigates the negative impacts of conventional input-intensive agriculture by excluding the use of agrochemical inputs from the production system, minimizing environmental pollution, promoting reuse and recycling of organic farm waste and crop residues, improving biodiversity, and enhancing soil productivity. Organic agriculture and agribusiness also contribute to improved rural livelihoods and sustainable development through generating rural employment opportunities and increasing farm incomes. Organic agriculture is not for more affluent countries alone but can be applied successfully in other situations. In less developed countries especially, it can contribute to foreign exchange earnings, Green Productivity, and sustainable socioeconomic development.

Organic agribusiness is expanding fast worldwide, and the Asia-Pacific region is no exception. The global organic market is driven by consumer perceptions that organic agrifood products are healthier, cleaner, and more ethical than conventional ones. As a result, the demand for organically grown products has risen significantly in recent years, even in developing countries in the region. Such expanded demand for organic products is expected to continue in the foreseeable future.

Organic agrifood products, however, remain niche products, although they command premium prices. Marketability at a premium depends on consumer confidence in the reliability and integrity of the products. To promote organic agriculture, the fundamentals of organic agribusiness, such as a credible system of standards, certification, and traceability, should be established. At the international level, the harmonization of organic standards and certification procedures is important to facilitate cross-border trade. All this will require stringent legislation, policy and institutional support, internationally recognized standards, and concerted efforts of all stakeholders. Many developing Asian Productivity Organization (APO) member countries, however, do not have adequate legislation, policy, and institutional arrangements in place.

The APO champions Green Productivity as a tool for achieving sustainable socioeconomic development in the Asia-Pacific region. To promote Green Productivity in agriculture, the APO organized several projects over the past few years, including three on organic agriculture/farming in India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka in the 2006–08 period. This volume presents selected papers from those three projects covering aspects of organic agriculture and agribusiness. I hope that it will serve as a useful reference on the subject in APO member countries and elsewhere.

The APO is grateful to the Government of India, especially the National Productivity Council and Ministry of Agriculture; the Government of Pakistan, including the National Productivity Organization and Pakistan Agricultural Research Council; and the Government of Sri Lanka, particularly the National Productivity Secretariat and Ministry of Agricultural Development and Agrarian Services, for hosting the projects. Special thanks are due to Dr. Tej Partap for editing the present volume.

Shigeo Takenaka, Secretary-General
Tokyo, April 2010