AMPATI: A two-day conclave on Clean and Green Mission under the State’s flagship programme, IBDLP, themed ‘Promising an organic revolution for the transformation of Meghalaya’ got under way on Monday at Ampati.
The programme organised by the Basin Development Unit, Ampati in collaboration with Clover Organic Pvt. Ltd., a Dehradun-based NGO and C & C Mission Organic, a Tura-based NGO, is aimed at creating awareness and train agro and other allied based farmers of the region on organic farming.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma remarked that the particular programme was held close to his heart as it heralded the birth of a new and innovative mission, the Clean and Green Mission under the Integrated Basin Development and Livelihood Programme.
“The programme is a component of the IBDLP and its overall concept is to think green, eat green and live green,” stated Sangma and added that it was a broad spectrum concept that encompassed all other concepts.
Speaking on the high incidence of new health problems brought on by the excessive use of non-organic fertilizers and pesticides the Chief Minister said, “These trends were not faced by our ancestors as they did not use synthetic or artificial fertilizers and pesticides.”
The Chief Minister, while speaking on the detrimental effects of consumption of food produced through non-organic farming, said that it was imperative to know “where the food we ate was coming from”.
Stating that organically produced food were the healthiest and had greater economic value, Sangma urged all the participants to keenly participate and learn from the conclave. “Once the trainings are over the farmers and their plot of lands where synthetic fertilizers and pesticides have not been used will be assessed and accredited certifying them to be organic farmers after a duration of three years,” stated Sangma.
Sabji Mandis totally regulated by the State Government will be created for farmers to sell their organic produces thereby eliminating middlemen, he said, and added that he was also structuring an innovative concept of contractual farming to maximize the use of available land.
Sangma later urged upon the people to compete to make the district the first one to be officially declared hundred percent organic.
He also asked South West Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh to send a delegate to Punjab’s cotton growing areas where heavy use of fertilizer has led to its farmers and their families develop cancer of various kinds.
During the day Clover Organics Pvt. Ltd. CEO, Sanjay Agarwal, spoke on the concept of organic farming and elaborated on innovative models of increasing crop production through organic farming.
The conclave was attended by 180 participants including farmers from fifteen villages and several NGOs.
Among others who spoke during the day were South West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh, District Horticulture Officer A.B. Savio Chism, EAC and Nodal Officer BDU, Ampati, W.R.G. Momin, Divisional Soil and Water Conservation Officer W.A. Sangma, Superintendent of Fisheries George Momin and C & C Mission Organic Project Manager B. Ch Sangma.