Why Organic?

In 2008, IFOAM adopted the following definition for organic agriculture.

“Organic agriculture is a production system that sustain the health of soil, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with the adverse effects. Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved.”

Principles: In 2005 the International Federation of Organic Movements (IFOAM), adopted the following basic principles of organic agriculture:

• The Principle of Health – Organic Agriculture should sustain and enhance the health of soil, plant, animal, human and planet as one and indivisible.
• The Principle of Ecology – Organic Agriculture should be based on living ecological systems and cycles, work with them, emulate them and help sustain them.
• The Principle of Fairness – Organic Agriculture should build on relationships that ensures fairness in regards to the common environment and life opportunities.
• The Principles of Care – Organic Agriculture should be managed in a precautionary and responsible manner to protect the health and well-being of current and future generations and the environment. Defining Categories of Organic Products Broadly, organic products can be categorized into three types and all of OWF products follow these classifications.
• Organic by Default– These are products often from the hilly regions of Nepal, where farmers have been practicing traditional farming systems. Therefore, there has never been any use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides or the application of conventional methods of agriculture.
• Organic in Conversion – Products which are in the process of converting high input agro-chemical based farming into organic farming. From the second year of completely stopping the use of agro-chemical inputs, the farm products are defined as “organic in conversion” and continued at least until the third year of production.
• Fully Organic – This is an organic product resulting from a state of agriculture being transformed back from conventional farming into organic farming. In general, the fourth year of production from the complete prohibition of agro-chemical use is labeled as organic.