A large number of initiatives have been taken by the agriculture and horticulture departments. The policy support for oa has been demonstrated by the launching of the national organic program nop in 2006 and the governments proposal for tax exemption of 510 years for commercial organic farming and processing of organic products. The participants agreements on strengths match well with a provision in the bhutanese constitution. Role of livestock in sustainable agriculture iaha preconference on organic animal husbandry november 78, 2017. Sikkims organic revolution at risk as local consumers. That means every product coming from the forests will be certified organic. Jun 04, 2015 this is my sincere effort to connect masses to the concept of organic farming, more in the context of sikkim india. Empowering farmers through organic farming in the himalayan. Field notes from sikkim the urge to go fully organic is so intense with the sikkim government that the changeover in farming techniques has been labelled a mission. The total geographical area of the state is 7, 29,900 hectares out of which farming is done in about 74,303 hectares. Organic farming is one of the several approaches found to meet the objectives of sustainable agriculture. Download the times of india news app for latest home news.
Learn what is organic farming and how you can convert your land into a certified organic farm. State farmers to study sikkim model of organic farming the. In their bid to successfully adopt organic farming in their respective regions, a group of farmers from the state will go on a study tour of sikkim, which has been declared the countrys first. The main agricultural land falls in tropical, subtropical and temperate zones. The practice which has been encouraged through the pages of our eve books, but never really been. Organic farming in sikkim in six bullet points smart. Sikkim was selected for the institute as it is the only state in the country which has adopted organic farming on a universal basis. Organic agriculture turns bitter fruit for farmers of sikkim launched as an ambitious programme through a resolution passed by the sikkim legislative assembly in 2003. Sikkim has turned out to be the indias first fully organic state by implementing organic practices.
According to the statistics provided by the sikkim organic mission, out of a total area of 7. The state government is promoting a significant conversion to organic farming, and opening livelihood schools first such schools in india for this purpose. The methods and materials that organic farmers use are summarised as follows. Organic farming produces the same yields of corn and soybeans as does conventional. To pen a few cereals, vegetables, spices, and fruits. Mar 11, 2018 file photo of prime minister narendra modi alongwith governor sriniwas patil and chief minister pawan chamling visiting an organic festival at gangtok. The himalayan state of sikkim has become indias first fully certified organic state by implementing organic practices in around 75,000 hectares of agricultural land. The national centre of organic farming ncof is engaged in the promotion and development of organic farming in the country. While organic enthusiasts admire what the state has done right, and even talk of replicating the sikkim model across india, catch identifies the five ways sikkim made organic farming.
It is a process in which chemical fertilizers and pesticides or any other kind of chemical. The government decided to make sikkim a certified organic state thirteen years ago. The journey wasnt easy, the questions were hard and the challenges looked insurmountable. File photo of prime minister narendra modi alongwith governor sriniwas patil and chief minister pawan chamling visiting an organic festival at gangtok. Organic farming system aims to produce healthy food while building healthy soil, maintaining ecological balance, establishing sustainable production.
Thats right all of its farmland is certified organic. Sikkim beat 50 other nominated policies to win the gold award for its state policy on organic farming 2004 and sikkim organic mission 2010, which have enabled it to become the first 100% organic state in the world. Sikkim is rich in biodiversity with abundant plant species because of which the soil is rich in organic matter content and makes the conversion easier. The march towards organic farming has led to substantial departmental intervention. As per the guidelines laid down in national programme for organic production, 75,000 hectares of. Very rich in macro and micro elements, trace elements, and vital energy very rich in organic. Prime minister modi recently announced that sikkim has become the first organic state of india. Daily mirror organic farming, a lesson from sikkim. One can get organic certification by strictly following organic farming methods. Today, sikkim is the first 100% organic state in the world. As per the guidelines laid down in national programme for organic production, 75,000 hectares of agricultural land was gradually converted to certified organic land by implementing organic principles. As a part of my field curriculum of masters in social work in tata.
Sikkim to have institute on organic farming times of india. This involves using techniques to achieve good crop yields without harming the natural environment or the people who live and work in it. Feb 26, 2017 green signal in sikkim, a crop of young entrepreneurs is leading the charge for a shift to organic farming despite the government declaring the himalayan state 100% organic, its farmers need help. In organic farming, a mind shift is essential, agreed brad brummond, north dakota state university extension agent from walsh county, who specializes in organic production. Sikkim is divided into five agroclimatic zones tropical zone, sub tropical zone, temperate zone, sub alpine zone and alpine zone. For sikkim as a state and to all of us here, the tag of being the first fully organic farming state comes with a huge responsibility of being able to sustain the distinct honor. Talking to reporters here today, dr bujarbaruah said out of the 50,000 heactare. Sikkim has gone organic, and here is what we can learn from them. But today, the demand for sikkims organic produce has soared and farmers in the state are already earning 20% more than they did earlier. Feb 11, 2016 sikkim was selected for the institute as it is the only state in the country which has adopted organic farming on a universal basis.
Organic farming in sikkim an audacious move youtube. In sikkim, a crop of young entrepreneurs is leading the. Union government to set up national organic farming. Organic agriculture turns bitter fruit for farmers of sikkim launched as an ambitious programme through a resolution passed by the sikkim legislative assembly in 2003, organic farming seems to be floundering on the ground, though, in terms of delivering the expected rewards to farmers.
Organic farming works in harmony with nature rather than against it. In fact, sikkim and mizoram had already declared to go on organic farming in the next five years, the icar director said. Decision in this regard was taken by union agriculture. Sikkim livelihood schools to promote organic farming. It all began with the farmers and sikkims landscape that got eventually came to be organic. Sikkim has gone organic, and here is what we can learn. Organic farming in sikkim in six bullet points smart indian. In the state of sikkim the concept of organic farming does not mean going back to the traditional methods. The initiative began in 2003 with chief minister pawan chamling getting a resolution passed in the state assembly to bring all agricultural land under organic farming.
Sorganic farming systems are based on development of biological diversity and the maintenance and replenishment of soil productivity. Organic farmers to be felicitated with monthly pension. Green signal in sikkim, a crop of young entrepreneurs is leading the charge for a shift to organic farming despite the government declaring the himalayan state 100% organic, its farmers need. Bernward geier, present here today, who stated that not only in india, but sikkim is the first fully organic state in the whole world. Sikkim organic brand takes roots by developing strong production and supply chain mechanisms for selected commodities. Sikkim accounts for the largest share of cardamom production in india, and is the worlds second largest producer of the spice after guatemala. Organic farming would help in retaining the soil fertility. Feb 24, 2014 a livelihood school on organic farming, has been inaugurated by the state agriculture minister, mr d. This involves using techniques to achieve good crop yields without harming the natural. Sikkim, the indian state becomes the first to farm 100% organic. As a part of my field curriculum of masters in social work in tata institute. Nov 01, 2016 sikkim is divided into five agroclimatic zones tropical zone, sub tropical zone, temperate zone, sub alpine zone and alpine zone. Its goodbye green revolution and hello organic farming for the people of sikkim. Talking to reporters here today, dr bujarbaruah said out of the 50,000 heactare excluding northeast of agricultural land where organic farming was being carried out, north eastern region has much more potential than that.
Sikkim is the first indian state to fully practice organic farming. The union ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare has decided to set up the national organic farming research institute nofri in sikkim. How sikkim beat himalayan odds to become indias first. Sikkim became indias first fully organic state in 2016 it took the state years to fully implement organic farming since the idea was mooted way back in 2003. Jan 18, 2016 sikkim is now the first fully organic state of india. Sikkim achieved its ambition to convert its agriculture to fully. On 19 january, prime minister modi declared sikkim as indias first and only organic agriculture state. Many techniques used in organic farming like intercropping, mulching and integration of crops and. How did the indian state of sikkim achieve 100% organic. How did the indian state of sikkim achieve 100% organic farming. Over the years sikkim has become sikkim an organic state. According to the international fund for agriculture and development ifad, about 2.
Integrated and organic dairy farming for sustainable livelihood of jlg farmers. Organic farming creates living soil full of life with microorganism, fungi, worms and termites. The organic movement in sikkim gained visibility in the year 2003 when the chief minister, pawan chamling, announced the decision to adopt organic farming and to convert the entire state into an organic one. The transition has benefitted more than 66,000 farming families that practice organic and agroecological farming on more than 76,000 ha of land. When sikkim spearheaded its organic farming mission in 2003, we could have only hoped that it would have a rippled effect on the rest of india. Sikkim is now a completely organic state officially. Sikkim organic mission mission organic sikkim 2015.
The policies and programmes on organic farming, in tune with our natural endowment envisage making sikkim a model organic state. The case of animal husbandry in sikkim to go organic pranav kumar and amandeep sing knowledge, attitude and perception of organic basmati growers of suchetgarh basmati rice cluster of. The objective of the mission was to adopt and implement the practises of organic farming with a systemic approach, develop linkage between the farmers and the market with intervention of certification agencies, and most of all, march towards a. This is part of the state governments plans to transform sikkim into a fully organic state by 2015. Chamlings organic mission in sikkim is the antithesis of the 1960s green revolution, when the indian government, desperate to avoid a repeat of the catastrophic bengal famine of 1943 in which some 3 million people starved to death imported grain and farming techniques from the west. In rethinking organic food and farming in a changing world, ed. National centre of organic farming 19 hapur road, ghaziabad. The march towards organic farming has led to substantial departmental. Concept of organic farming 4 sthe farmer manages selfregulating ecological and biological processes for sustainable and economic production of products. Sikkim, the indian state becomes the first to farm 100%. Apr 06, 2018 to addon to this and to promote organic farming first within sikkim, charming has imposed a ban on the trade and consumption of nonorganic agriculture and horticulture based products which dominated markets prior to organic practices. The government was motivated not only in benefiting the 62,000 farming families in the state who own an average of 1. Believe it or not, the landlocked state in eastern india has done what many other states could not. The policy support for oa has been demonstrated by the launching of the national organic program nop in 2006 and the governments proposal for tax exemption of 510 years for commercial organic.
Sikkim will have converted 50,000 hectares of farmland out of the total 100,000 hectares of farmland of the state into organic where over 60,000 farming families will be engaged in organic farming. Jan 31, 2017 pradhan, and his farmers cooperative in the village in rhenok, in eastern sikkim, went organic in 2007, after participating in a government education programme about the benefits of organic. The national project on organic farming has been launched as a pilot project in the tenth plan w. It took the state years to fully implement organic farming since the idea was mooted in 2003, the press trust of india pti says.
Pradhan, and his farmers cooperative in the village in rhenok, in eastern sikkim, went organic in 2007, after participating in a government education programme about the benefits of. Many techniques used in organic farming like intercropping, mulching and integration of crops and livestock are not alien to various agriculture systems including the traditional agriculture practiced in old countries like india. The national project on organic farming has been launched as a pilot project. Aug 10, 20 organic farming creates living soil full of life with microorganism, fungi, worms and termites. You must go from treating problems to treating the causes of the problems and recognize that every decision you make will affect other aspects of your system. Pdf scale and the politics of the organic transition in. Prepare a clear cut implementable road map of organic farming. How sikkim could offer lessons to other states in organic.
Integrated and organic dairy farming for sustainable livelihood of jlg farmers in karur district mahesh chander enhancing sustainability in indias states. To implement the programmes of organic farming with a systematic approach to achieve the target set by the govt. Organic produces have great market value and demand. Sikkim becomes the first fully organic state of india india. Sikkim became indias first fully organic state in 2016. The decision to go wholly organic was based on the fact that farming in sikkim has been traditionally organic. Sikkims organic revolution at risk as local consumers fail. Organic enterprises are established by some sikkim entrepreneurs, promoting brand sikkim organic products, which enable the state export niche commodities, such as. To addon to this and to promote organic farming first within sikkim, charming has imposed a ban on the trade and consumption of nonorganic agriculture and horticulture based. Organic farming, therefore, provides a better alternative to chemical farming. Sikkim has predominantly a mountainous terrain, the states 66000. How sikkim could offer lessons to other states in organic farming sikkim could offer lessons to other states in encouraging farmers to take up organic farming, but getting them to stick to it is the real. Sikkim achieved its ambition to convert its agriculture to fully organic over the interval 2003 to 2016, the first state in india to achieve this distinction.
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