Certification
OFAI offers its members two different procedures for organic farm certification: ‘Participatory Guarantee System’ (PGS) and the ‘Third Party Appraisal’ (TPS).
Participatory Guarantee System
In the ‘participatory guarantee system’, local groups of farmers conduct the farm appraisals themselves and maintain a group watch to ensure that all follow the standards and the rules. OFAI is a founder member of the PGS Organic India Council. Find out all about PGS at: www.pgsorganic.in
This method of appraisal is best suited for rural communities, villages, special focus groups organized by NGOs, etc.
Third Party Appraisal
In the ‘third-party appraisal’ system, trained and experienced organic farmers (who are members of the association) appraise farms as third party appraisers and submit their independent reports to the association. This kind of farm audit is suitable for individual farms, small or large, especially where there is little scope for group activity.
National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP)
OFAI Farm Appraisers: OFAI Farm Appraisers are selected only from the organic farming community and must be practicing organic farmers. Any organic farmer who can write and fill in a form in his own mother tongue can offer himself/herself for training and an examination prior to selection.