Internal inspection is the heart of an NPOP grower group: every farmer, twice a year, by the group's own inspectors. This episode sets out the structure behind it, what to check on each farm, and how to handle non-conformities.
The short version
- Every farmer, twice a year, with at least one inspector per 50 to 60 farmers.
- Check practices, buffers, inputs, records and contamination risks.
- Major non-conformity: prohibited substances; minor: poor documentation.
- A farmer who used prohibited inputs restarts full conversion.
The Structure Behind Inspections
An ICS Manager, trained internal inspectors, standard checklists and a three-member approval committee.
- The ICS Manager organises the inspections and links with the Certification Body.
- At least one internal inspector per 50 to 60 farmers, trained every year by an external person or agency.
- A standard checklist, based on the group's internal standards.
- A three-member approval committee decides on each farmer.
What to Check on Each Farm
Practices, seed, inputs, buffers, storage, the farm diary, and a yield estimate.
- Soil and nutrients.Compost, green manure, legumes; no synthetic fertiliser.
- Pests and disease.Methods and products used; no prohibited pesticides.
- Seed and planting material.Source, and whether organic or untreated.
- Buffers and contamination.Separation from conventional farms, roads and other sources.
- Records.Farm diary and bills agree with what is seen.
- Yield estimate.For each crop, especially near harvest.
Where contamination is suspected, NPOP expects an analysis of the product and possible sources, such as soil and water.
Illustrative workload. At about 40 minutes per farm, one round for 75 farmers takes 50 hours. Two rounds a year for 750 farmers take about 1,000 hours, which is why NPOP asks for one inspector per 50 to 60 farmers.
Handling Non-Conformities
Rate each finding, set corrective action and a deadline, verify it, and apply sanctions where needed.
| Step | Rule |
|---|---|
| Rate | Major if prohibited substances were used; minor for inadequate documentation |
| Correct | Set the action and a deadline; verify it was done |
| Sanction | The ICS may remove the farmer or downgrade status; a penalty of up to ₹5,000 may be imposed, considering farm size |
| Prohibited inputs | The farmer undergoes full conversion again if they stay in the group |
| Mixed produce | If such produce was mixed with group produce, notify the CB at once and remove it from the supply chain |
Check yourself
Tap an answer to see whether you are right, and why.
How does NPOP rate the use of a prohibited substance?
- Minor non-conformity
- Major non-conformity
- Not rated
Minor is for inadequate documentation.
What is the maximum penalty an ICS may impose on a farmer under NPOP?
- ₹500
- ₹5,000
- ₹50,000
NPOP 5.18.4.2 allows up to ₹5,000, considering farm size.
Remember these things
- Every farmer, twice a year.
- Check practices, buffers, records and yields.
- Major means prohibited substances.
- Notify the CB if produce was mixed.
Thorough internal inspections are what let the Certification Body trust the group. KrushiFlow validates these fields and submits farmer records to the portal in bulk.