India’s biggest offering of organic products

India’s biggest offering of organic products ranging from food, fabrics and furniture to wellness, personal care and solar products is being held at Dilli Haat, INA in the national Capital. 

Organised and sponsored by the Union Ministry of Women & Child Development as an annual affair, the ‘Women of India Festival 2016 – Organic Products’, celebrates and promotes women entrepreneurs from across India. 

The Women of India Festival 2016 was inaugurated by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Maneka Sanjay Gandhi on October 14.

The main aim of the Festival is to support and encourage women and women-led groups that promote organic farming, thus supporting their local community’s economy, creating jobs and keeping farmers thriving, in addition to spreading awareness about the benefits of organic products with the motto, “Eat Healthy, Live Healthy”. The Women of India Festival of Organic Products is also intended to highlight the health and environmental advantages of organic goods, provide a platform for women engaged in it and boost the development of sustainable and easily accessible sales outlets for producers of organic products from remote corners. 

Maneka Gandhi, who is also widely recognized as an environmentalist and animal activist, explains the importance of making the shift to organic.

“Organic foods have been proven to contain far more vitamins, minerals and nutrients than similar foods produced with chemical fertilizers, pesticides and preservatives. Organic farming relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost, and natural methods of pest control,” she said.

“Organic plants and food crops have also been found to contain higher amounts of salicylic acid which fights bowel cancer and the hardening of arteries responsible for heart conditions, strokes and other ailments. Salicylic acid is produced naturally in plants to fight stress and disease, but pesticides inhibit the plant’s ability to produce salicylic acid,” she added.

The exhibition has more than 220 stalls selling organic produce. Until the October 23, people will also get the opportunity to taste a variety of home-cooked and organic food at Dilli Haat.

Over 400 women entrepreneurs from Leh to Kanyakumari and from Kohima to Kutch, have come together with their organic products, such as fabrics, dyes and dresses, cosmetics, household products, organic ice cream, aromatherapy products, and many other products.