What is the difference between PGS and NPOP third party certification and which should I choose?

The two serve different markets so the right choice depends on where you sell. PGS-India is group based and peer verified, low cost, no expensive outside inspector, and is recognised for the domestic market. It suits small farmers selling locally, through farmers markets, FPOs or domestic organic buyers. NPOP is third party certification done by an accredited certification agency with outside inspection and traceability documentation, it costs more, and it is the system accepted for exports and by buyers and retail chains that demand third party proof. So the rule of thumb is, domestic and small scale go PGS, export or large institutional buyers go NPOP. You can also start on PGS and move to NPOP later when you have a confirmed export buyer, since the buyer often even shares or insists on a specific certification. One honest point, neither certificate by itself creates a buyer or a premium price, it only lets you access markets that require certification. Confirm current NPOP accredited agencies and their fees, and PGS rules, from the official organic certification portals, as both are periodically updated.