Training and Capacity Building of the Staff in the Meghalaya State Organic Certification Body (MSOCB)

i. 10 days Online Training by Shri Dorairaj K., Consultant organic certification from 9th to 27th August 2021

Capacity building program to the staff of the Centre on the process of NPOP Certification was conducted by Shri Dorairaj K., Consultant Organic Certification. Apart from the staff of the Centre, Officers and staffs from the Department of Agriculture (Team from the State Organic Mission, Agricultural Technology and Management Agency (ATMA) and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs) were also included in the training program. The training program was conducted through virtual mode owing to the travel restriction due to the pandemic situation. The total duration of the training program is 10 days and it was conducted from 9th August 2021 to 27th August 2021. A total number of 72 participants attended the online training program.

ii. 5 days Training conducted by Indian Institute of Plantation Management (IIPM), Bengaluru at BRDC, Upper Shillong from 1st to 5th March 2022

A five-day awareness training programme was conducted by Indian Institute of Plantation Management, (IIPM) Bengaluru which was organized by BRDC, Upper Shillong for the staff of BRDC for the NPOP organic certification programme that will be implemented by the Centre.

Resource Persons:
1. Dr. Prafull Prabhakar Gadge, Ph. D. Biochemistry, CEO & Principal Scientist Biome Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
2. Dr. Bibhishan Sudrik, Ph. D. Genetics and Plant Breeding, Principal Scientist Biome Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
3. Dr. Ankur Gogoi, Assistant Professor, Indian Institute of Plantation Management, Jorhat, Assam.

The training programs encompasses standard guiding principles in organic certification as per National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP). Concept of natural farming, organic farming and conventional farming system, its differences and limitations was also thoroughly discussed during the training session.

A detailed discussion on certification process under crop production,standard guidelines related to organic certification were highlighted, in which input which falls under Permitted, Restricted and Prohibited categories are discussed. Organic livestock, poultry and apiculture standard guidelines was also thoroughly discussed whereby the various permitted, restricted and prohibited inputs and actions involve therein was highlighted.

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iii. 6-days mock field Training programme on inspection for individual farmer, farmer groups (Internal Control System-ICS Group) and wild collection area conducted by Shri Dorairaj, Consultant Organic certification held from 13th - 18th June, 2022

Staffin the Meghalaya State Organic Certification Body (MSOCB) were thoroughly trained for 6- days in conducting inspection and certification processas per NPOP which was conducted by Shri Dorairaj, and held at the identified 3 sites for the mock field inspection for the three categories of operators i.e. (i). Individual(ii).Growers Group (ICS) and (iii).Wild collection category. The training was held from the13th - 18th June, 2022.

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iv. Exposure visits of the NPOP team from Meghalaya State Organic Certification Body (MSOCB) to Karnataka State Organic Certification Agency (KSOCA)
Duration: 5 days
Date: 27th November 2023 to 1st December 2023

As a new CB to be established, the team from the Meghalaya State Organic Certification Body (MSOCB)visited Karnataka State Organic Certification Agency (KSOCA) for an exposure visit. The purpose of the visit is to understand the certification process, the challenges and the strategy involved therein.

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v. Mock field Training programme on inspection for Internal Control System-ICS Group) conducted by the Team from MSOCB under the facilitation of Directorate of Horticulture, Government of Meghalaya which was held on the 12th March, 2024

The field inspection to an ICS group facilitated by the Directorate of Horticulture, Government of Meghalaya. The inspection was conducted on the 12th March 2024. The ICS group that was inspected was under the external audit from SGS Certification Body under which the group was registered.

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vi. Mock field Training programme on inspection for Internal Control System-ICS Group) conducted by the Team from MSOCB under the supervision of Shri Dorairaj K., Consultant Organic certification on the 15th March 2024

The field inspection to an ICS group under the facilitation of the Directorate of Horticulture, Government of Meghalaya was conducted on the 15th March 2024 as part of the capacity building to the staff of MSOCB.

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