National Centre of Organic Farming will be the Secretariat of the PGS programme with Director NCOF as the Executive authority.
Key role and responsibilities of the Secretariat will be as follows :
- All executive and secretarial responsibilities related to execution of the programme, NAC meetings, implementation of the decisions of NAC, matters to be put up to NAC and coordination with NAC members
- Advise NAC on all technical and implementation issues
- Capacity building, education, training and outreach activities for Zonal and Regional councils.
- Training of local group leaders through RCOFs in collaboration with Zonal Council and Regional Councils.
- Surveillance and monitoring of Zonal and Regional Councils
- PGS India Website design, hosting and maintenance
- Custodian of entire PGS India database
- Receipt and processing of applications for authorization of NAC as Zonal/Regional Councils
- Facilitate election of members from RCs for nomination to PGS-NAC.
- Facilitate and maintain positive relationship with controllers of Third party certification system to ensure the compatibility of PGS programme with NPOP.
- Coordinate and liaise with different State Governments for promotion and popularization of PGS programme.
- Surveillance of PGS products through residue testing including collection of PGS samples, getting those samples tested for residue analysis and hosting of residue analysis results on PGS website.
- Appellate authority for local groups against the actions and decisions of Regional Councils/Zonal councils and for Regional Councils against the action of Zonal council.
- Literature development, publicity, technology dissemination and awareness creation through print and electronic media.