‘Mission Organic’ on the anvil: Chief Minister
SHILLONG: The State government has sought 3000 MT fertilizer from the Centre to help farmers during the transition period before completely shifting to organic farming.
Informing this in the State Assembly on Wednesday, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said this would address the immediate need for the current growing season.
In a written reply to the call attention motion moved by T W Chyne (UDP) on the plight of farmers due to the sudden stopping of supply of fertilizers and pesticides, the Chief Minister, who holds Agriculture portfolio, said that agriculture department has taken a conscious policy to introduce a safe system of organic production, certification and marketing.
The department will shortly be launching the ‘Mission Organic’ which will usher in a production regime taking into consideration the health, safety and prosperity of all the stakeholders, especially the farmers and the citizens of the State, he said.
He admitted that the the non-judicious use of chemical fertilizers had led to poor soil health management.
“In order to mitigate the negative effects of chemicals and pesticides, the Agriculture department has taken up facilitation of alternative methods by way of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Integrated Nutrient Management (INM)”, the Chief Minister said.
According to the Chief Minister, these alternatives are being popularized and incentivized through an integrated plant health management system, which will produce food that are safer, that adhere to the National Programme of Organic Production (NPOP) standards and that are nutritionally more acceptable. Under the Integrated Pest Management, the department has been continuing its efforts, particularly through the Farmers Field Schools and its extension machinery, to promote the use of bio- pesticides and bio-agents which are safer for the consumers and the eco-system. Under the Integrated Nutrient Management farmers are being trained in the production of on-farm compost, vermi-compost and green manuring, as well as in the use of bio-fertilizers, in order to improve soil health.
“The department has therefore substituted the subsidy sale of chemical fertilisers and pesticides by providing free distribution of bio-pesticides and bio-agents through various demonstration programmes so as to create awareness and acceptability among the farming community”, the Chief Minister added.
