SIKKIM GOING BACK TO ORGANIC FARMING

by Nita Nirash

Sikkim the state with only 7096 sq km of total land area is on its way to become an Organic state by the year 2015.The state Govt. has launched the Organic Movement which is now being carried out seriously. Launching the mission in 2010    Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling, highlighted some of the reasons behind the Sikkim Organic Mission. He said, “Our hilly state is dependent for food commodities, specially vegetables and fruits, on outside State supplies to some extent. As a result money does not go to our farmers and there are issues about the safety of food to consumers. We want to reduce dependence of the consumers of the state for vegetables and fruits on outside state supplies in order to help our farmers benefit from the consumer boom and discourage Sikkim becoming a consuming society, particularly when rural population starts moving away from farming. It will benefit farmers and state if they could diversify farming and in this regard increasing access to Sikkim farmers Organic produce in the local markets, which will serve a meaningful purpose. Organic Mission will be beneficial to all citizens of state in terms of health and wealth, but also for our precious land, water resources and ecology.”

Organic Farming is a process in which Chemical fertilizers and pesticides or any other kind of chemical inputs are avoided

Organic Farming is a process in which Chemical fertilizers and pesticides or any other kind of chemical inputs are avoided. These are replaced by Organic inputs and Organic sources of soil nutrients. However, scientists & researchers differ on Organic food being healthier than the other one. Recent researchers from Stanford University, USA, after conducting research pointed out that “Eating Organic fruits & vegetables can lower exposer to pesticides, including for children- but amount measured from conventionally grown produce was within safety limits.” They also are of the opinion that even insecticides used inside homes resulted in the presence of pesticide level in urine of children examined. So it can be said that if we want to be within safety limits for our internal system, it has to be complemented & supplemented by equally beneficial products, when it comes to atmosphere & environment within the four walls of our houses.

According to the Economic Survey Report, Govt. of Sikkim, (2006-7), “Fertilizer consumption was over 3000 tones in 2001.The per hectare consumption of fertilizers has been steadily going down. In fact, Sikkim with a per hectare consumption of 5.8kg is the least fertilizer using State in the whole of North East, except for Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.”

Present scene is different from what it was in 2006-7, during the Plan. Now, the Govt. is steadily moving on the track of Organic Mission 2015. Prior to launching of the Mission –’15, total 8128 hectares of certified land was already in existence. A 50 Thousand acre land, which remained to be converted, is being changed into an Organic area phase wise. This process will bring all the agricultural land under Organic system and Certified.

Organic Food Market at Sikkim

The State, which had started discouraging the use of Chemical Fertilizers & Pesticides, has stopped the subsidy on these from 2006-7.When ever some thing new is started anywhere, awareness among the stakeholders and convincing, them is very important. But, in a state where Farmers rarely use Chemical inputs in the olden days, convincing them should not have been very hard. The agriculturists, according to official sources, were not following the practice of using much Chemical Fertilizers, till the Initiation of Green Revolution in India, in 70’s.The most challenging aspect of having the whole state converted into a systematic and recognized Organic Farming, appears to be the training. This has been receiving appropriate attention from the State Govt. The youth have also been trained for marketing.’ Demonstrations of nutrient management’ are being given in the fields of Farmers in order to generate more awareness. They have been brought home to the fact that to increase the production and to enrich the soil, they have to use Farm Waste System. Those, who have taken to Organic Farming, have started using recycled farm & forest waste, as organic sources of nutrients.The Sikkimese farmers have also started using bio-fertilizers and organic fertilizers. The govt. has been providing the farmers with rural compost pits, vermicompost and bio-fertilizers.

For having proper Organic Farming, giving up chemical fertilizers is not enough, as there are many more strings attached to it. The seeds have to be totally organic also. So, the concerned department has been breeding seeds and testing too. Efforts are being made to produce seeds organically.

Do people prefer buying Organic produce? The Organic produce appears to be a bit expensive, but tasty, nonetheless. It is said to be better than conventionally produced food items, the fruits are said to be sweeter, also. On visiting the Khangchendzonga Shopping Complex, in the capital, Gangtok, one finds the stalls selling Organic Vegetables & Fruits, flourishing like any other. Youth having formed Cooperative Society for selling the organically grown produce are happy with their income, but they think that consumers should be made more aware about the benefits of Organic Food. There are stalls selling Organic food from both Sikkim as well as Siliguri.

All that is produced in harmony with nature is naturally healthier and tastier compared to conventional type of items. The Organic food is also said to be lower in nitrates and antioxidants. The health hazards and risks like cancer and nerve problems caused due to chemical pesticides at times can also be reduced by consumption of Organic food.

The state has adopted the most authentic certification system, which has been accepted by the European Union, Switzerland and USDA. Group Certification and Participatory Guarantee System can also be accepted in future, though it is acceptable in domestic market only. The Certification process takes around three years.

The persons, who have switched over to proper Organic Farming, have all the joy of beautiful birds and insects chirping and singing in their farms. Some animals are also expected to be back to their original habitats.

Nita Nirash