Government Policy and Consumer Perception towards Organic Food Products (OFPs) in India

The history of the organic food industry explores an effort to establish a foundation pertinent to the succeeding information. The study looks into consumers’ perceptions towards organic food examined. A study on consumer perception towards organic food products (OFPs) may add insight into the nascent but emerging organic food industry in India. The review of related literature in the area of OFPs and consumer perception studied has provided many insights for the study. A number of researchers have identified various factors that influence consumer perception of OFPs mainly in developed countries. Some studies have also been undertaken in Asian countries like Malaysia and Indonesia. Very few researchers have attempted to focus in detail the various factors that influence consumer perception towards organic food. Having reviewed several studies and having identified the gap, the investigator felt an imperative need to undertake the present investigation. Consumers worldwide are becoming health conscious and are concerned about nutrition (Hart, 2000) and the quality of food consumed. Consumers are also increasingly concerned with food safety issues taking into consideration. Gil et al. (2012) have investigated that consumers are getting health conscious and are paying more attention to quality of food consumed. Therefore, food must deliver an added value that are sought after by consumers besides basic hedonistic and functional needs such as nutrition, taste, health, favourable price-quality ratio and so on in the selection of food. This added value may be perceived in the form of ecological, social and individual benefit.