Sikkim is the first state in the world that is 100% organic: All of its farmland is certified organic. The policy implemented a phase-out of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and achieved a total ban on sale and use of chemical pesticides in the state. The transition has benefitted more than 66,000 farming families.
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What is the role of government in implementing organic farming in Sikkim?
By creating and ensuring a domestic market for organic products controlled by the farmers, the policy aims to make farming sustainable, remunerative and respectable, including for youth, and to ensure seed and food sovereignty.
When was the policy of organic farming implemented in Sikkim?
2003
The Government of Sikkim stepped into Organic Mission process from 2003, the year when it stopped imports of chemical fertilizers in the State. Since then the cultivatable land in Sikkim are practically organic and also farmers of Sikkim are traditional users of organic manure.
What steps have been taken by the Sikkim state government to make it the first organic state of India?
The state was the first state in India to officially adopt organic farming in 2003, a decision that has paid off in the long run, ensuring sustenance of soil fertility, healthy living, and decreasing the risk of health ailments. Also, in 2003, Sikkim banned the imports of chemical fertilizers in the state.
How did Sikkim became an organic state?
In 2010, the Sikkim Organic Mission was launched with a clear road map of converting 50,000 hectares of land, thereby bringing the entire state to organic status by December 2015.
What is organic farming in Sikkim?
Sikkim is the first state in the world that is 100% organic: All of its farmland is certified organic. The policy implemented a phase-out of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and achieved a total ban on sale and use of chemical pesticides in the state. The transition has benefitted more than 66,000 farming families.
Why Sikkim is called organic state?
“Sikkim is the first organic state in the world. All of its farmland is certified organic.The policy implemented a phase out of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, and achieved a total ban on sale and use of chemical pesticides in the state. The transition has benefitted more than 66, 000 farming families.
Who started organic farming in Sikkim?
Minister Pawan Chamling
Back in 2003, Sikkim’s Prime Minister Pawan Chamling, who held office continuously from 1994 to 2019, sent his country on the road to becoming a ‘totally organic state’ – at a time when big agribusiness companies were conquering India, which had opened up economically in 1991.
What are the methods used in organic farming in Sikkim?
Apart from this, practices like mulching, techniques like green manure, using liquid manure like cow dung and urine, or planting certain boundary trees to prevent pest attacks, are common practices in Sikkim. These are not only nature-friendly and improve soil health, but are very sustainable too.
How the practice of organic farming helped the state of Sikkim ecologically as well?
Organic farming would help in retaining the soil fertility. It would protect the environment and ecology. It would ensure healthy living. It would also reduce the risk of health ailments.
When did Sikkim became an organic state?
In 2016, Sikkim became the first fully organic state in the world, with the aim of preserving the environment, its fragile ecosystem and rich biodiversity, and providing a healthier life for its people. The declaration was the culmination of a process that started in 2003.
Why Sikkim is good for agriculture?
In January 2016, Sikkim became India’s first “100 per cent organic” state. Today, all farming in Sikkim is carried out without the use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, providing access to safer food choices and making agriculture a more environment-friendly activity.
What is Sikkim agriculture?
Agriculture is still the main stay of rural population of Sikkim. Due to adverse geographical location and difficult terrain, the expansion of area under cultivation is limited. The challenge is two-fold, very low per-capita availability of land and decreasing trend of farmers working on farms.
What is used in organic farming?
More specifically, organic farming entails: Use of cover crops, green manures, animal manures and crop rotations to fertilize the soil, maximize biological activity and maintain long-term soil health. Use of biological control, crop rotations and other techniques to manage weeds, insects and diseases.
How organic farming is important?
Advantages of organic farming
It helps to maintain environment health by reducing the level of pollution. It reduces human and animal health hazards by reducing the level of residues in the product.It reduces the cost of agricultural production and also improves the soil health.
How organic farming is done?
Organic farming uses a variety of methods to improve soil fertility, including crop rotation, reduced tillage, cover cropping, and application of compost. By reducing soil tillage, the soil is not inverted and exposed to air; less carbon is lost to the atmosphere resulting in more soil organic carbon.
What is the conclusion of organic farming?
Conclusions. Organic farming yields more nutritious and safe food. The popularity of organic food is growing dramatically as consumer seeks the organic foods that are thought to be healthier and safer. Thus, organic food perhaps ensures food safety from farm to plate.
Where is organic farming done in India?
Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and Tripura are the major states to cultivate organic products in India. Other states for organic farming are Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra.
What type of farming is practiced in Sikkim?
The farming in Sikkim is mostly done on subsistence level. Nearly one third of the cultivation is of the shifting (jhum) type. Canal irrigation is quite low at around 12–13%. Rice is the staple food and occupies 81% of the total area under cereals followed by maize (12.8%).
