Organic farming is a practice being adopted by the farming community of the state for ages. But in due course of time when chemical fertilisers and pesticides came into supply of plant nutrients and control of diseases the noble practice slowly started fading and chemicals took over in certain crops over a period of time. Still the consumption of fertilisers and pesticides was very low as compared to other states of India and far below the National average. Many of the crops never encountered chemicals and have been growing at the strength of organic inputs. In the early seventies enhanced chemical use leading to enhanced production and productivity of crops under irrigated agriculture. But mountainous state likes Sikkim and other North Eastern states where basically agriculture in rainfed, the chemical use did not have significant impact on production and productivity.
Considering all these aspects the Government of Sikkim took a decision to adopt organic system of farming in the entire state and probably the first state in India to bring resolution in the State Assembly. Concern for the people of the state for a healthy and wealthy living in a sustainable way keeping due care of ecology and environment has been taken as the prime duty.
As per the new article reported (here) Sikkim, which started eco-friendly farming from a small area of land about a decade ago, is set to become a fully organic state by 2015. Sikkim Agriculture Secretary Vishal Chauhan said that "The entire state will be converted into a certified organic state by 2015, our schemes and policies are well tuned to realize that goal".
In Sikkim, structured organic farming started in the state in 2003 when the government set up the dedicated Sikkim State Organic Board to promote farm techniques that prohibit the use of manufactured synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Over 8,000 hectares of land was covered under organic farming between 2003 to 2009. In a bid to make the state fully organic, various state government agencies are working in coordination.
Pawan Chamling, Chief Minister of Sikkim had introduced a resolution in the assembly seeking to convert entire farming in the state to organic. Sikkim government has also promoted large-scale use of bio-fertilisers and provides certified manufactured organic manure to farmers as an alternative to their chemical substitutes. Now, farming in Sikkim relies on techniques such as green manure, compost, biological pest control and crop rotation.
The bio-village programme was also adopted in 2003 and around 400 villages were adopted by the state government till 2009 to benefit some 14,000 farmers and 14,000 acres of land in four districts of the state. It is also pertinent to mention here that due to such kind of efforts by state government has completely stopped lifting of quota of chemical fertilizers extended by the Government of India since 2006-07 and all sales points for chemical fertilizers in public and private sector have been shut.
In order to provide alternatives to farmers, 24,536 rural compost units and 14,487 vermi-compost units were constructed in farmers' fields till 2009.
As per the new article (here) Mizoram is the first state in the country to ban the use of fertilisers and pesticides in agriculture and encourage organic food produce.
Sikkim government has launched the comprehensive 'Sikkim Organic Mission' as a nodal agency to implement and monitor the programme in time-bound manner. A state-level apex body with the chief minister as its chair oversees the implementation," the official said. Policy & vision of the mission can be accessed (here). The main objectives of the mission shall be- 1. Frame policy of organic farming in the state. 2. Prepare a clear cut implementable road map of organic farming. 3. To implement the programmes of organic farming with a systematic approach to achieve the target set by the Govt. 4. To develop and explore markets of Organic commodities. 5. To develop linkage between the organic farmers and the market with intervention of certification agencies so as to continue the policy permanently. 6. To develop Sikkim organic brand with proper logo. 7. To make farming profitable, sustainable and environmentally acceptable.
According to latest data, Sikkim produces some 80,000 million tonnes of farm products, including 45,890 million tonnes of ginger, 3,510 million tonnes of large cardamom, 2,790 million tonnes of turmeric, 4,100 million tonnes of buckwheat, 3,210 million tonnes of urad daal and 20,110 million tonnes of mandarin oranges. Significant portion of these products are already organic.
The government has set a target to implement fully-organic farming technique by 2015. Organic products sell at a premium, which will benefit over 50,000 families in the state and promote organic agro-tourism.
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