Guwahati, May 24: Organic joha rice is set to tickle the tastebuds of gourmets all over the world. Those on a health drive are keenly championing the cause of organically grown products. The health factor is also the main reason for the high demand of organic products in the international market.

?We are fully convinced that joha will get the organic status. Formalities are being completed and the certificate will be given by next year,? senior agriculture development Bangshidhar Kalita, who is in charge of the organic rice project, said.

He said the certifying and inspection agency ? SGS India Pvt Ltd appointed by the Assam government ? has been satisfied with the quality of joha rice after taking samples of the crop and the soil and examining it in their laboratory.

After the necessary conditions are fulfilled, it takes three years to get an organic certificate.

Accredited by APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) the Germany-based SGS (Soci?t? G?n?rale de Surveillance) is the world?s leading verification, testing and certification authority. SGS India Pvt Ltd is its Indian affiliate.

The Assam government had appointed SGS India as the certifying agency in the organic rice farming project as it was eyeing the international market for export of joha rice. Sanctioned in 2003-04, the project, for which the Centre had granted a sum of Rs 20 lakh, saw the light of day only in 2004-05.

A total of 92 hectares of land, involving 162 farmers in Darrang, Sonitpur and Lakhimpur districts, was allotted for joha cultivation.

?It is heartening to know that the certifying agency has not found any chemical inputs so far in joha? Kalita said. Three organic audits have been conducted so far, the last one being in December last year.

Grown in an area of 17,000 hectares in Assam, joha is undoubtedly the most preferred grain in the state. The productivity per hectare ranges between 1.50 and 1.75 metric tonnes whereas the total estimated production of the grain is 30,961 metric tonnes.

Out of the more than 20 available varieties only the Kunkuni variety is being cultivated under the organic project.

Only after an agricultural product is produced, processed or packed under a valid Organic Certificate issued by a certifying agency duly accredited, then can it be exported as an ?organic product?.

?We will ask the farmers to grow a single variety of joha once the organic status is given,? Kalita said. The SGS had asked the farmers to follow an organic management plan, which it duly adhered to. Bidyut Baruah, regional manager of APEDA, said there has been a positive response to joha in international fairs . He said the European Union has already accepted the organic standards developed by India, which will make it much easier to get acceptance.

Baruah said special attention has to be paid in maintaining the quality, as international buyers are very particular about it.