GUWAHATI: About 46,951 hectares of farmlands in Meghalaya have been brought under organic production even as the conversion target of 2lakh hectares by 2020 hinges primarily on the availability of funds under central and state government schemes.
Currently, the land conversion process is being carried out through three schemes – Meghalaya Mission Organic, Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCD-NER) and Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY).
“The progress has been good. We are in the third year of conversion of 40,000 hectares under Mission Organic while another 6,000 hectares are being converted under MOVCD-NER and another 951 hectares under PKVY. However, the target that has been set to be achieved by 2020 will depend on the availability of funds,” B. Syiem, joint director, horticulture, told The Shillong Times on Friday.
The conversion process, which involves selection of land area-wise, observation and finally certification, takes at least three years.
While Mission Organic is into its third year in Meghalaya, MOVCD-NER has been implemented since 2015-16, sources in the horticulture department informed.
As many as 35,924 farmers have been brought under the purview of the schemes so far.
Meghalaya Mission Organic has four key pillars which comprise: Mini Mission 1 (Facilitation and Convergence), Mini Mission 2 (Post Production Facilitation), Mini Mission 3 (Certification and Market Linkages) and Mini Mission 4 (Research and Development).
Under each of these mini missions, several key activities have been designed and incorporated to build Brand Meghalaya as a source of certified organic produce, organic food as well as projecting the state as a destination for eco-tourism.
“We are combining activities under the mini missions and as of now, the process of organic adoption and certification is under way,” a source in the state horticulture department said.
As many as 12 farmer producer companies (FPCs) across the state have been formed under MOVCD-NER so far.
“One of the major challenges faced by the department is to bring sceptical farmers and stakeholders on board and convincing them to switch to organic system,” an official of the Meghalaya horticulture directorate told this correspondent on the sidelines of Vibrant Northeast 2018 here.
The horticulture directorate is putting up a stall to showcase products under Meghalaya Mission Organic, Urlong and Meg brands at the event aimed to bring farmers and stakeholders under a single platform and make them aware of the central government schemes.
Currently, six organic service providers empanelled by the agriculture department are motivating farmers to adopt organic farming, help in registration of growers, help farmers in maintaining and verifying records, and build farmer capacity through training.
Sources in the horticulture department also said that processing plants would be set up across the state subject to the products being certified organic. “Such plants would be set up region wise for specific spices, vegetables and fruits. The process has been initiated and proposals have started coming from Garo Hills,” the source said.
Under MOVCD, there is a component of setting up organic bazaars as well. “Northeast organic bazaars will be set up within a periphery of 25km of the clusters once crops come out certified. As of now the idea is in a nascent stage and proposals from the districts are awaited. As it is, we will avail all the components under the schemes,” he said.