Before a Regional Council endorses a group's certification decision, it must check that the peer appraisal was real, complete and on time. The guidelines give a clear list of checkpoints. This episode sets them out, with the warning signs of copied appraisals and the choices the RC has.
The short version
- Seven checkpoints decide whether an RC endorses a decision.
- At least 3 appraisers for each inspection, and no reciprocal reviews.
- Watch for copied appraisals: same handwriting, same yields, same date.
- The RC decides within 30 days, or 15 days after a resubmission.
The Checkpoints for Endorsement
The guidelines list seven checkpoints; the decision is endorsed only when requirements are met and there are no adverse findings.
| Checkpoint for endorsing a group's decision | What to look at |
|---|---|
| Meetings | Required group meetings held, and members present |
| Trainings | Key trainings organised, and members present |
| Summary sheet | Complete, and a full reflection of the certification process |
| Complaints | Any complaints received during the period |
| RC physical verification | The RC's own inspection report |
| Past record | Earlier non-compliances, and whether advice was followed |
| Residue testing | The result of any residue test |
Checking the Appraisal Itself
Check who appraised, when, and whether the worksheets support the group's decision.
- Each inspection had at least 3 peer appraisers, as the certification steps (§5.1) require, and no two farmers appraised each other. (§4.2 mentions teams of two; teams of three meet both.)
- No one appraised their own farm. The peer appraisers' own farms are inspected by another team.
- The appraisal date falls between 15 days after sowing and 15 days before harvest.
- Survey numbers and areas match the farmer's registration.
- Inputs recorded on Format-9 are permitted under the standards.
Warning Signs in a Batch
Look for patterns that suggest appraisals were copied, not done in the field.
- The same handwriting across different appraisers' signatures.
- Identical yield estimates on farms of very different sizes.
- Many appraisals on one day across distant villages.
- A group decision that the worksheets do not support.
Forwarding a decision with incomplete peer appraisals is a major non-compliance under the RC's catalogue of sanctions. Visit a sample of farms before endorsing.
Illustrative workload. At about four minutes per farmer record, a group of 20 takes about 80 minutes, and 500 farmers take about 33 hours each season.
Endorse, Return or Deny
Endorse when requirements are met; return with reasons when something is missing, and the group has 15 days to resubmit.
Endorse when
- All seven checkpoints are satisfied
- The worksheets support the decision
- No adverse findings are open
Return when
- Appraisals are incomplete or late
- Records do not match
- Earlier advice was not followed
The RC must decide within 30 days of receiving the summary sheet, or within 15 days of a resubmission. If the RC denies certification, the group can appeal to its Zonal Council.
Check yourself
Tap an answer to see whether you are right, and why.
A group forwards a decision where several farms have no appraisal worksheet. What should the RC do?
- Endorse it to save time
- Return it; incomplete appraisals are a major non-compliance
- Appraise the farms itself
The group must complete the appraisals and resubmit.
How long does a group have to resubmit a returned decision?
- 7 days
- 15 days
- 60 days
The guidelines give 15 days, and the RC then decides within 15 days.
Remember these things
- Use the seven checkpoints.
- Check appraisers, dates and records.
- Look for copied appraisals.
- Decide within 30 days.
Careful checks before endorsement keep the whole group's certification trustworthy. KrushiFlow validates these fields and submits farmer records to the portal in bulk.