Being a product consumer during the COVID-19 pandemic: profile of the Polish consumer in the organic dairy market

PurposeThe purpose of this paper was to determine the profile of dairy product consumers in the organic market.Design/methodology/approachThe study was based on a survey questionnaire developed by the author and administered to a total of 1,108 respondents. The statistical analysis (including descriptive statistics, the analysis of the discriminative function and the Chi2 test was performed with the use of Statistica 13.1 PL. The respondents' gender was the factor behind the differences in how they behaved.FindingsThe consumers indicated the channels they rely upon to find information on organic dairy products;in addition to trusting the opinions of their family members and experts, they also use web platforms. Further, they specified their preferred locations for buying favorite products during the pandemic: specialized organic food shops, large distribution chains and online stores.Practical implicationsThese outcomes will help in identifying target consumer segments and information channels for specific information and advertising messages. They also form an important resource for developing some potential strategies which the supply chain stakeholders could implement to promote organic consumption of dairy products.Originality/valueThis study identifies consumers' preferred dairy products;motives for purchasing organic dairy products;barriers that consumers believe exist in the market;sources of knowledge about products purchased by consumers;and consumers' preferred channels for purchasing organic dairy products. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first study of dairy product consumers in the organic market in Poland.

Consumer attitudes and sociodemographic profiles in purchasing organic food products: evidence from a Greek and Swedish survey

PurposeThis study explores Greek and Swedish consumers' attitude towards organic food consumption in order to demonstrate possible differences that can be identified based on health and ecological consciousness beliefs rather than demographic factors. The examination of an emerging and a more mature market allow the authors to provide more targeted marketing strategies that possibly increase organic food consumption in both countries.Design/methodology/approachThe authors adopt an econometric approach to the analysis of consumer behavior in relation to organic food consumption in Sweden and Greece. More specifically, the authors examine the motivations and postexperiences of organic food consumers of different socioeconomic profiles in these two countries, one in northern and one in southern Europe. The authors apply an ordered logistic regression analysis model to map out the interaction between consumer attitudes and sociodemographic variables.FindingsThe authors results show that consumers in Sweden more frequently purchase organic foods than consumers in Greece. Environmental protection and ethical values increase the odds for Swedish organic food consumers to buy organic food products. Health consciousness and family well-being are perceived as factors that increase the odds for Greek organic food consumers to buy organic foods. Sociodemographic factors do not play a pivotal role for consumer behavior in relation to organic food in both countries.Originality/valueThis study distinguishes between organic food consumers in two countries with different levels of organic food production and export activity, size of organic market, national organic labeling system and legal definition and standards of organic food. Within these differences, the organic food industry could align its marketing efforts better rather focus on simplistic demographics. The current view unfolds the fact that there are limited studies comparing two European markets at different stages of development and the factors that influence organic food consumer behavior.

Farmers' Profitability through Online Sales of Organic Vegetables and Fruits during the COVID-19 Pandemic-An Empirical Study

The purpose of this research is to empirically identify the association of the IT literacy of farmers and their profitability through online sales of fresh organic fruits and vegetables during the COVID-19 pandemic. The methodology used in the research is quantitative in nature. A closed-end questionnaire has been used as a survey tool to collect data from Indian farmers. The farmers' IT literacy and attitudes towards organic farming are independent variables, and the frequency of sales of products through online stores and farmers' profitability are the dependent variables. The researcher has attempted to study how the outbreak of COVID-19 has moderated the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. The sample size is 271 farmers who sell their products through online stores. The findings reveal that the farmers' attitude towards organic farming and their IT literacy correlate with the profitability of online sales. Further, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has moderated the relationship between both the dependent and independent variables. This research will help the government in formulating policies for facilitating farmers to sell their produce through online modes. The study could be further extended by collecting data from farmers from different Asian countries and comparing the results with those of the present research findings.

The 5th International Conference on Food and Agriculture (ICoFA)

Introduction of ICoFA 2022Dear colleagues,We are glad to announce the release of the 5th International conference of Food and Agriculture (ICOFA-2022). The ICOFA is annual conference organized primary by Politeknik Negeri Jember. In this year the theme of our conference is "Recover Together, Recover Stronger: Strengthening Food and Agriculture Technology”Surely, we plan to conduct this conference physically and virtually (hybrid). However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation has not subsided, the 5th ICOFA 2022 was carried out physically and virtually by zoom meeting platform. We took this option because this conference was already designated and funded. Keynote and invited speakers were also scheduled for this event. Many delegations and authors requested for this conference to be performed, since they need it to cover their publication and sharing knowledge requirements.The key directions of the conference covered the discussion of advanced achievements and touch upon the main aspects of the agriculture engineering and biotechnology, organic agriculture, animal science related to food, food science and technology, food safety, food security and sovereignty, IT for agriculture, renewable and novel energy sources, and socioeconomics related to food and agriculture.The conference was run as planned on 5th - 6th November 2022 and supported by hybrid event organizer started from 9.00 am to 17.00 pm. Conference model are Plenary session with keynotes (40 minutes for each keynote speech) and participants' presentations (20 minutes for each presentation). A total of 151 submissions and selected 134 participants from Universities, Research Institutes and also Government Departments joined the conference in over six countries Australia, Bangladesh, France, Indonesia, South Korea, and Thailand.Our honorable speakers were Dr. Ir. Dadik Pantaya, M.Si, IPU from Politeknik Negeri Jember, Indonesia;Prof. Sae-Byuk Lee, Ph.D from Kyungpook National University, School of Food Science and Biotechnology, South Korea;and Asoc. Prof. Dr. Fakir Sharif Hossain from Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh.More than 134 full papers were submitted to 5th ICOFA 2022. After a pre-review on originality and language, peer review process was arranged by Editorial Committee and 94 manuscripts were selected for publication in IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (EES).We also wish to thank to keynote speaker, invite speakers, presenters and participants, and all authors for contributions to the 5th ICOFA 2022 and to colleague members of the organizing committee, please accept my deep appreciation for your hard working in ensuring the success of the conference.Editor-in-Chief, ICOFA 2022Dr. Ir. Budi Hariono, M.Si.List of Scientific Committee ICOFA 2022, Technical Committee ICOFA 2022, Conference Photograph ICOFA 2022 are available in this pdf.

Consumers' Behavior in the Field of Organic Agriculture and Food Products during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Czech Republic: Focus on a Comparison of Hyper-, Super- and Farmers' Markets and Direct Purchases from Producers

The aim of this paper is to assess Czech food consumers' behavior when buying organic products during the COVID-19 pandemic, with an emphasis on the place of purchase of organic agriculture and food products—especially those purchases with the shortest logistics value chain, i.e., purchase at farmers' markets, or directly from the producer—and a comparison with the current most common places of purchase of organic products in the Czech Republic, supermarkets and hypermarkets. Categorical data analysis methods were used to create a profile of the consumer according to the most frequent purchase locations. To create mathematical–statistical models and interpretations, the methods of logistic regression, correspondence analysis and contingency table analysis were chosen. According to the results of the survey, respondents under 25 years of age are the least likely to make purchases at farmers' markets or directly from the producer. Consumers aged 26–35 and with a university degree are the most likely to buy organic agriculture and food products at this location, followed closely by older respondents in the categories 36–45 and 46+ and with a secondary education. It is important for manufacturers to have an overview of where, in what quantities, and for what reasons consumers buy their products, especially for reasons of production optimization and planning, ecological concerns, rural development, and the impact on local areas and the value chain.

Changes in demand and adaptation strategies in sustainable agricultural production during COVID-19 pandemic confinement

The pandemic has been a real shock, also in the markets for sustainable agricultural products. This article analyses, firstly and through secondary data, the changes in the consumption patterns of fresh produce of Spaniards during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the changes in the typology of channels and types of purchasing establishments. Secondly, primary data (surveys and interviews) are used to analyse the perception that a sample of farmers from Valencia (linked to sustainable production) have of the impact of confinement, and their response and adaptation strategies. The results highlight, on the consumers' side, changes in consumption habits (direct and internet purchases, higher quality, etc.) and, on the producers' side, differentiated strategies, with equally different effects depending on the initial production environment (certified organic farming versus sustainable practices) or the time elapsed (response in the first moments of confinement versus the response they were able to give after a few months), among others. © 2023 Universidad Compultense Madrid. All rights reserved.

COVID-19 pandemic and resilience in the agricultural sector: a local strategy may solve the global challenges

Agriculture remains a major engine of growth among the majority of developing and underdeveloped countries throughout the globe. But the sudden outbreak of COVID-19 has severely affected all sectors of agribusiness industries. In many parts of the world agriculture production became almost half due to the impact of this pandemic. But in two Himalayan regions of India, Darjeeling and Sikkim, mixed effects were observed during the pandemic period. Although a large number of marginal farmers were severely affected during the lockdown and even in the unlock phases, while a significant number of farmers also gained nominal to a large amount of profit;chiefly because of reliability on complete organic farming including producing organic manure and bio-pesticides by the farmers themselves, lack of competition with imported agricultural commodities into the local market due to the inter-state travel ban, marketization of the agricultural products to the consumers through Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs), NGOs and Sikkim State Co-operative Supply and Marketing Federation ltd. (SIMFED) and above all creation of the Farmers' Helpline at district levels by the local government bodies to solve the problems of the farmers even in the remotest regions.

Will participating in ECPs improve organic tea farmers' income in the context of the COVID-19 epidemic?

Product commercialization is an integral part of the production chain. Previously, most farming households sold organic tea to traders, supermarkets, and consumers at traditional markets. However, in the context of the complicated development of the COVID-19 epidemic, they have gradually switched to selling online or on e-commerce platforms (ECPs). The benefits of ECPs to the community's health have been demonstrated in many studies. However, the economic benefits for organic tea farmers have not been specifically considered. This study aims to shed light on whether participating in ECPs improves the income of organic tea farmers in the context of the COVID-19 epidemic. To answer this question, we used the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) method after interviewing 298 organic tea farmers in the mountainous provinces of northern Vietnam. Research results have shown that farming households that use ECPs to sell products have a higher income than those that do not use ECPs. This result implies that supporting and promoting farmers to put organic tea on ECPs is a valuable solution to help them improve their income. Therefore, local authorities and farmers' associations in the mountainous provinces of northern Vietnam should find practical solutions to support farmers' participation in ECPs during the current epidemic.

Selection and evaluation of environmentally friendly pesticides, biological preparations and resistant variety samples against harmful objects of gourds in the conditions of the south-east of Kazakhstan

In the Republic of Kazakhstan melons and gourds are produced mainly in the traditional way, that is, by using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The production of environmentally friendly melons is at the initial stage of its development. There is no organic melon growing at all. Considering the huge export potential of melons among other crops cultivated in the country (the total supply of melons and melons on the domestic market is 472%), the great economic and social significance of the transition of the melon industry to organic production is growing. In the future, Kazakhstan may be in the center of attention of the world community as a manufacturer and supplier of environmentally friendly (organic) melons, and environmentally friendly, natural melons may well become a brand of our sovereign state. To do this, it is necessary to make fundamental changes in the melon industry of the country. In general, the transition of agricultural production to an organic direction will contribute to the consumption of the safest and most useful products by the local population. Here, one should also take into account the decrease in the immunity of the human body due to various diseases, including those associated with the coronavirus pandemic. It should also be taken into account that only a limited number of pesticides used against harmful objects in agriculture act as intended, and most of the toxic substances spread into the environment. The use of disinfectants without scientific support has a negative impact on flora and fauna, being deposited in the soil and irrigation system of fields for a long time, thereby causing enormous damage to the environment. Given the above facts, our scientific research was aimed at the selection of pesticides and biological preparations with high biological and economic efficiency, low rates and frequency of treatments, as well as varieties with high resistance to fungal diseases of melons (watermelon, melon). Research work was carried out on the experimental plots of the Regional Branch "Kainar" of the LLP "Kazakh Research Institute of Horticulture" in the period 2020-2021. The studies used classical methods generally accepted in melon growing. The results obtained are new and relevant, and in the future, will contribute to the transition from traditional melon growing to biological.

The way awareness of food security with social justice motivates horticultural activities: a case study in the suburbs of Osaka, Japan

It has been suggested that urban horticulture can meet the challenge of providing safe food materials for urban dwellers. However, it has also been proved worldwide that socially vulnerable populations tend to be excluded from such food supply chains. As a consequence, it is only natural that the people who hope to address this issue try to grow their own food and generate their own supply in an inclusive way. Having said that, the author's previous action research implies that the awareness of food security does not always straightforwardly motivate the act of growing crops. It will be useful for practitioners to improve the sustainability of their horticultural activities oriented toward equal food affordability, if they have any idea of how to successfully connect such rapidly growing awareness with the motive for growing crops. This is what the current presentation attempts to develop. Participants in the horticultural activity organized as the continuation of action research gave semi-structured interviews for their motives to participate in. Some participants were doing so just for taking pleasure in growing crops, by which they maintain their mental health. Some others place the first priority on producing physically healthy vegetables, although they could rather purchase those someone else has produced. The reason behind this was that they were also aiming at restoring their social ties, which was once weakened after the COVID-19 calamity. They considered that actually organizing horticultural activities would be an effective method for gathering people with concern about food security. The results will finally indicate that what ensures the sustainable horticultural activity might be the aesthetic experiences that participants have when they appreciate the growth of crops firstly, and secondly it is inclined to lurk behind several commonplace plain slogans because of its seeming triviality and thus deserves special mention. © 2022 International Society for Horticultural Science. All rights reserved.

Review on the positive influence of intercropping systems for organic vegetable growing

Intercropping is considered to be a fundamental tool for ensuring agricultural sustainability and productivity, a matter of major importance in the specific context of the last decades and, mainly, the last two years. Within European agriculture, conventional advantages of intercropping system following laborious experiments were disregarded by farmers because of the justified goal of maximizig profits using affordable pesticides on the market. This determines farmers to focus on increasing the size of their farms, replacing manual labor with a mechanized one, resulting a technological specialization of a few crops at the expense of biodiversity. However, nowadays, following the Covid-19 pandemic and the entire chain of effects it generated, agriculture was directly affected due to the limitation of worldwide transport amplitude and the scarcity of products and raw materials that arose, the price for some of them becoming trully prohibitive (to be seen the case of chemical fertilizers at the end of year 2021). The present paper aims to highligh some paramount matters of using intercropping systems in vegetable crop practice, regarding the perspective of soil, environment, ecosystem biodiversity and economical sustainability.

Acharya Balkrishna: Dhanwantari of Modern Era, Father of Evidence-Based Ayurveda Revolution with a Multifaceted Research Perspective

Ayurveda is an ancient traditional medicinal system that has gained widespread acceptance, however, its ancient wisdom still needs in-depth investigation. Acharya Balkrishna is a prominent scholar and expert in Ayurveda, Sanskrit, yoga, and the Vedas. His efforts led to the acceptance of Ayurveda and yoga practices by millions of people worldwide. His team is presently working on the World Herbal Encyclopedia, a massive compendium that includes descriptions of 50,000 medicinal plants from around the globe and is intended to boost the traditional medicine system. His continued attempts to save traditional knowledge from extinction have resulted in the digitization of 60 lakh pages of ancient manuscripts. Together with his intellectual partner Swami Ramdev, a well-known yoga guru, he successfully treated millions of patients with a variety of severe ailments over the last two decades to achieve a better universal health. In the service of humanity, both laid the foundation for the herbal and yoga empire. Acharya Balkrishna’s research team developed various evidence-based ayurvedic medications, including Acidogrit, Bronchom Cardiogrit Gold, Madhugrit, and the most popular Coronil, an anti- COVID-19 herbal remedy. He is the recipient of several prestigious accolades, including the Bharat Gaurav and the UNSDG 10 most influential people in healthcare award. He has done extensive research in several areas such as herbal research, the revival of traditional literature, agriculture, organic farming, information technology, and tribal welfare. He has authored more than 150 books, and 200 research articles, and also filed 41 patents. He is an outstanding visionary with a dynamic personality, multifaceted skills, with a commitment to serve the humanity. This article commemorates about Acharya Balkrishna’s revolutionary life and discusses his brief journey from an innocent child to a renowned Ayurvedacharya.

Exploring the use of complementary and alternative approaches to health care on UK dairy farms

The aims of this study are to determine if CAM use has potential to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use and support the global efforts against antimicrobial resistance, and to ensure that antimicrobials and other conventional treatment approaches are used where appropriate. 20 farms with a range of management systems, herd sizes and production goals were recruited to this study. Interviews were conducted with 24 farmers through a mixture of face-to-face, telephone and videoconferencing modalities necessitated by movement restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, 16 farms were visited to collect ethnographic participant observational data using ethnographic fieldnotes and photographs. Interviews were conducted using a topic guide and explored participants' experience of CAM, including drivers/barriers to CAM use, experiences of CAM use and how CAM might influence the use of conventional medicine such as antibiotics. Early findings indicate several drivers for UK dairy farmers to use CAM approaches, including their own personal [or friends' and relations'] experiences, the views of influential people and advisors, networks within the farming community and the fact that CAM use allows a greater sense of autonomy in health-based decision making. Farmers often refer to milk buyers and organic guidelines as factors which influence their use of CAM. They further refer to a desire to 'do something' for the animal and to minimise animal welfare related concerns. A range of CAM information sources were also consulted by farmers including, holistic health management organisations/courses, online materials, and pharmacies. Participating farmers associate the use of CAM approaches with other holistic health management practices, human-animal interactions, the actual character and physical characteristics of an animal and animal welfare. This indicates that CAM use is seen by farmers as part of a wider ethos and belief about holistic farming practices and land use. Additionally, data implies that some farmers value their positive personal experiences of CAM use over scientific evidence. In contrast, barriers to CAM use were also identified including: the perception that CAM approaches are reserved specifically for organic systems, little access to CAM and related resources and some existing tensions between farmers and other stakeholders' views. Early findings suggest that farmers are influenced in their use of CAM by a range of individuals within the agriculture community, including veterinary surgeons (some of whom use homeopathic practices), mainstream farming press and pro-CAM organisations and advisors.

Socioeconomic Characteristics Associated with Farming Practices, Food Safety and Security in the Production of Fresh Produce—A Case Study including Small-Scale Farmers in KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa)

Farmer practices may influence the microbial quality and safety of fresh produce. The increasing demands to create ready-to-eat (RTE) fresh produce while providing potential niche markets for smallholder farmers might be contributing to increased numbers of fresh produce-associated foodborne disease outbreaks. This study determined the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and farmer hygiene practices of farmers using open-ended questionnaires and key informant interviews. Additionally, the relationships between farmer socioeconomic characteristics and hygiene practices were statistically analyzed. The semi-organic smallholder farmer population and the farmworkers of the organic farm were female-dominated. Tertiary education was a predominant characteristic in the organic and semi-conventional workforces. While the semi-organic and semi-conventional farms relied on a combination of ‘store-bought’ synthetic and composted organic fertilizers, the organic farm owner only used composted organic fertilizer. The irrigation water sources varied amongst the farm types. However, most of the semi-organic farmers did not pre-treat irrigation water prior to use. The irrigation water source and fertilizer type selected by farmers varied and might affect the microbial quality and safety of fresh produce. Socioeconomic factors such as gender and education may influence farmer hygiene practices. These characteristics should therefore be considered when planning farmer support interventions.

Effect of Pumpkin Cultivar on the Selected Quality Parameters of Functional Non-Dairy Frozen Desserts

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of pumpkin cultivar as a fermented semi-product on the selected quality parameters of functional non-dairy frozen desserts, which were prepared using the potentially probiotic strain cultures L. rhamnosus Lock 0900 and L. casei O14. Microbiological status, pH, sugar and carotenoids content, antioxidant activity, color and sensory quality have been checked. Regardless of the pumpkin cultivar used, the lactic acid fermentation of pulps with selected bacterial strains decreased reducing sugar and total sugars content. Improvement in the antioxidant activity was also observed. The impact of the individual sensory attributes on the overall quality was determined. The overall quality of the investigated pumpkin sorbets was positively driven by the sweet taste, pumpkin flavor, smoothness of texture, and negatively driven by acidic flavor, pungent taste, and bitter taste, verified by PCA method. All of the final products achieved high survival of probiotics (higher than 8.4 log CFU/g) and revealed a good sensory quality (overall quality higher than 8 c.u). The treatments with the cultivar “Melon Yellow” of the Cucurbita maxima species, were characterized by significantly higher (p < 0.05) carotenoids content, total sugars and reducing sugars content and antioxidant activity, measured by two methods. It can be concluded that the pumpkin cultivar and strain culture used for the fermentation affect the count of potentially probiotic bacteria in the final products, the composition of bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity and sensory quality of the functional pumpkin frozen desserts.

How Does Information Influence Consumers’ Purchase Decisions for Environmentally Friendly Farming Produce? Evidence from China and Japan Based on Choice Experiment

In this research, 600 Chinese and Japanese consumers were divided into four groups to analyze consumers’ marginal willingness to pay for environmentally friendly farming (EFF) produce. We found that Chinese consumers had high awareness of green foods, while Japanese consumers were more familiar with organic produce than specially cultivated produce, perhaps because the latter has not yet received uniform national certification in Japan. Choice experiments show that EFF produce prices and consumers’ income critically affect consumers’ decision to pay, especially in China. After each group read different formal definitions of EFF produce, Chinese consumers still preferred green food certification, whereas Japanese consumers chose specially cultivated carrots. Both displayed different ideological purchasing behaviors through added interaction terms with an increase in education. When no information was given, Japanese consumers’ purchasing decisions became more positive as their education levels rose. Possibly, highly educated Chinese consumers emphasize pragmatism, whereas Japanese consumers emphasize the connection between environmental protection and agriculture. Therefore, EFF messaging should be differentiated by region. For distributors committed to international trade in EFF products between developing and developed markets, we suggest lower costs, differentiated product messaging, and community initiatives events to enhance trade and marketing in both China and Japan.

Agri-Food Waste as a Method for Weed Control and Soil Amendment in Crops

The continued and extensive use of synthetic herbicides to control weeds to maximize crop yield is no longer sustainable, as it results in negative impacts on the environment and human health. Innovative sustainable and resilient food production systems should preserve resources and environmental health by incorporating alternative natural herbicides, recycling waste, and favoring a circular economy. The present work assesses the value of different organic waste (Urtica dioica residues, Vicia faba pods, spent coffee grounds, and corn cobs) as bioherbicides and fertilizers in different seasons through pot and field two-year sequential experiments. Pot assays revealed that V. faba pods, spent coffee grounds, and corn cob waste showed the best inhibitory effect, which were subsequently evaluated in the Spring–Summer and Autumn crops. In the field, spent coffee grounds reduced the biomass of total naturally-emerged weeds and stimulated crop growth under scarce rainfall and warm days. However, its effect varied under different environmental conditions. Spent coffee grounds can partially control weeds in the field, which valorizes them as a bioherbicide and boosts sustainable agriculture.

Organic agriculture: Short communication on the current situation

Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation, and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and good quality of life for all involved" (IFOAM 2008). [...]organic agriculture can be seen as a mediator capable of reducing the conflict between what people need and take from nature and what nature has to offer (Petrescu et al 2015). Authors: Ioan Valentin Petrescu-Mag, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Faculty of Agriculture, 3-5 Calea M&acaron;n&acaron;ştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania, European Union, e-mail: zoobiomag2004@yahoo.com Marian Proorocu, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Faculty of Agriculture, 3-5 Calea M&acaron;n&acaron;ştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania, European Union, e-mail: mproorocu@yahoo.com This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. For a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system. https://ec.europa.eu/food/system/files/202005/f2f_action-plan_2020_strategy-info_en.pdf European Commission, 2020c Regulation 2020/464 of 26 March 2020 laying down certain rules for the application of Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the documents needed for the retroactive recognition of periods for the purpose of conversion, the production of organic products and information to be provided by Member States.

Problems and proposal of solutions in organic farming

Interest in organic farming is increasing day by day in our country. The fact that people have to keep their immune systems strong, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic process, has directed people to organic products. Due to the increasing demand for organic products, it should be required to gain momentum in its cultivation. However, organic farming growers in our country face various problems at the beginning of their work. These is generally organic seed and organic seedling supply, organic fertilization, organic spraying. This is followed by the marketing of organic products grown under very difficult conditions and informing the consumers in order to eliminate the problems in marketing. The dissemination and sustainability of organic agriculture is not possible only by increasing the production areas and amount. It is important to ensure that consumers also prefer organic products and to be informed for this purpose. Informing producers and consumers will increase the supply and demand of organic products, thus increasing both commercial production and the production of products that are beneficial to the environment, nature and human health. The aim of the study;It is to offer solutions by considering the problems faced by organic agriculture growers from the first time they start to work, until the harvest and sales point.

Factors affecting consumer purchase intentions of organic food through fuzzy AHP

Purpose>Organic food market has grown rapidly on a global level and so is the interest of customers. The present paper ranks the factors and sub-criteria which are taken into consideration while making organic purchase decisions resulting in understanding the behaviour of consumers.Design/methodology/approach>The present paper considered a sample of 550 respondents in the area of Punjab. Fuzzy AHP technique was applied to understand the key factors and sub-criteria which play a major role in organic food purchase decisions. The paper is empirical and descriptive in nature. The factors considered for the study include price, consumer knowledge, trust, attitude, behavioural intentions, subjective norms, perceived personal relevance and perceived consumer effectiveness.Findings>The three major influential factors include price, trust and attitude ranked in the same order of preference which majorly affects the purchase decisions and talking about sub-criteria the three major criteria to purchase organic food include: “Price plays a significant role in purchase decisions (P2)”, “Organic food keeps me fit and healthy (A1)” and “Organic food intake makes me feel energetic (A2)”.Research limitations/implications>The present paper is limited to the area of Punjab and majorly eight factors have been taken into consideration. Further research can be explored on broader geographical and cultural areas with new dimensions in criteria and sub-criteria.Practical implications>The findings of this paper will surely help the marketers to understand the behavioural intentions and preferences of the customers. Accordingly, they will strategize the policies to convert organic food market into a niche market with a high growth rate.Originality/value>The existing literature explored various key factors. However, the present study comes up with ranking to the factors according to their priority in purchase decisions. This will definitely help marketers, business houses, practitioners and academicians about the key factors which affect purchase decisions, and it will surely add incredible knowledge into the existing database.