Gurgaon: Barcode will trace origin of organic vegetables

Each organic product will be labelled with a unique barcode ID that will enable a consumer trace the details of the farmer, supplier, production date and other details.

Consumers who buy organic farming products will soon be able to trace the origin of the fruits and vegetables. Each organic product will be labelled with a unique barcode ID that will enable a consumer trace the details of the farmer, supplier, production date and other details.

Local farmers provide basic support to the residents and take care of these plots regularly. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)

This initiative is part of the organic farming programme launched by Green Leaf India -- a group of residents and farmers -- and backed by the Gurgaon horticulture department in Garethpur Bass village.

“We will launch this initiative with a view to letting people know whether they are consuming organic vegetables or not. This will also curb the fake organic products in the market,” Deen Mohammad Khan, the district horticulture officer, Gurgaon, said.

The plan is to tie up with farmers across the country and make their products available to consumers.

Green Leaf India will also launch a website and mobile phone-app using which consumers can buy organic fruits and vegetables. A central office that will track all orders online through a website, which is under process now, will also be launched, a Green Leaf member said.

Consumers can scan the barcode on the products using the app to get details of the product such as the place where it came from, how much time it took to harvest and also the kind of fertilisers used.

The programme will be a first in Haryana and will get support from farmers in Nagpur, Bhopal, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and other places in the state.

Through such an initiative, not only will the quality be kept in check but farmers will also be benefited, Khan said.

It will provide relief to the farmers as well, as they can get in touch with consumers directly, he said.