By Viju BViju B, TNN | Aug 23, 2012, 11.12PM IST
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state, for the first time, has drafted a road map for implementing organic farming in districts, taking Sikkim as a successful model. The picturesque northern state bordering the Himalayas will be declared as the first organic state in the country by 2015.
Sikkim has got rid of the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers in its agriculture fields, with 8,000 hectares of farm lands shifting to organic farming in the past two years alone.
Kerala is now planning to emulate the same agro-model in Kasaragod district as a pilot project, and has taken the technical assistance of the Sikkim Organic Mission to kick-start the project.
Senior agriculture officials say that Kasaragod was chosen as a sort of redemption from the abuse of endosulfan that brought misery to its people. Around 500 people lost lives due to excessive use of the pesticide in the cashew plantations in Kasaragod in the past 20 years.
"The draft guidelines are being approved after having several rounds of discussions with senior officials who are an integral part of the organic mission in Sikkim.
The guidelines will have details of crops, usage of manure and organic pesticides," K R Jyothilal, state agriculture secretary, said on Thursday.
He said five panchayats in Kasaragod district would be selected for the project initially. "The farmers will be given training and expertise in organic farming methods. The state will also assist farmers in marketing these organic products, so that they will not incur losses after shifting to organic farming,'' he said.
The department will also allocate Rs 4 crore to set up animal husbandry farms in the district as part of the project. "This is done to ensure enough manure for the farms that have switched over to organic farming. The state has also banned the production of genetically-modified crops in the state," agriculture minister K P Mohanan said.
Senior officials from the agriculture department said that Sikkim being a small state, it was easy to implement the organic farming initiative there.
"Kerala has a greater challenge, as it has to feed a larger population, but it is possible to switch over to organic farming as it has huge health benefits, which are far greater than the initial hardships. Punjab today is a classic example where so many people are suffering from cancer due to excessive use of pesticides and inorganic fertilizers,'' Khorlo Bhutia, director of agriculture and executive director of Sikkim Organic Mission, said.
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Going organic, the new mantra in Sikkim
Press Trust of India / New Delhi August 26, 2012, 10:20
Going organic is the new mantra in Sikkim with hundreds of families in the northeastern state having adopted this farming method.
More than 8,000 hectares of land is currently covered under the organic certification of the state due to a strong road map worked out by various government agencies under which sale of chemical fertilisers and pesticides has been completely banned, a state government spokesman said.
"The state government completely stopped the lifting of government of India quota of chemical fertilisers since 2006-2007 and all sales points for chemical fertilisers in public and private sector have been completely closed down," the spokesperson said.
Alternatively, the state government introduced organic farming and promoted large-scale use of bio-fertilisers and provided certified manufactured organic manure to farmers as an alternative to chemical fertilisers.
In order to provide alternatives to farmers, 24,536 rural compost units and 14,487 other compost units were constructed in farmer's field.
According to latest official figures, Sikkim has recorded around 80,000 MT farm production, including 45,890 MT ginger, 3,510 MT large cardamom, 2,790 MT turmeric, 4,100 MT buckwheat, 3,210 MT urad and 20,110 MT mandarin oranges.
"Once the entire state is converted into a fully certified organic state by 2015, then the entire 80,000 MT of farm produce will be organic," the spokesperson said
Going organic, the new mantra in Sikkim
Press Trust of India / New Delhi August 26, 2012, 10:20
Going organic is the new mantra in Sikkim with hundreds of families in the northeastern state having adopted this farming method.
More than 8,000 hectares of land is currently covered under the organic certification of the state due to a strong road map worked out by various government agencies under which sale of chemical fertilisers and pesticides has been completely banned, a state government spokesman said.
"The state government completely stopped the lifting of government of India quota of chemical fertilisers since 2006-2007 and all sales points for chemical fertilisers in public and private sector have been completely closed down," the spokesperson said.
Alternatively, the state government introduced organic farming and promoted large-scale use of bio-fertilisers and provided certified manufactured organic manure to farmers as an alternative to chemical fertilisers.
In order to provide alternatives to farmers, 24,536 rural compost units and 14,487 other compost units were constructed in farmer's field.
According to latest official figures, Sikkim has recorded around 80,000 MT farm production, including 45,890 MT ginger, 3,510 MT large cardamom, 2,790 MT turmeric, 4,100 MT buckwheat, 3,210 MT urad and 20,110 MT mandarin oranges.
"Once the entire state is converted into a fully certified organic state by 2015, then the entire 80,000 MT of farm produce will be organic," the spokesperson said
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