Organic farming: Mukul calls bluff of state govt

SHILLONG, Aug 20: Casting aspersions on the National People’s Party (NPP)-led MDA Government for lifting the ban on use of fertilisers, Leader of the Opposition Dr Mukul Sangma on Saturday said the government does not understand the importance of promoting organic farming.
“I have always said there is need for an in-depth understanding for any policy maker to see that any decision which was arrived at does not backfire. This whole endeavour to promote organic farming was appreciated by everyone and it is highly needed,” Sangma told reporters.
According to him, Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself had referred to various initiatives to encourage organic farming.
It may be mentioned that the ban on use of fertilisers was imposed in 2014, when Mukul was the Chief Minister, in a bid to promote organic farming.
According to the ex-CM, there is no short-cut, particularly in regard with a programme of this nature.
The opposition leader said the MDA can explain to the Prime Minister how they have besmirched the mission after a significant sum of money was infused for the programme.
According to him, the investment was not only from the state owns resources but also the resources which were passed on to the state government by the Centre.
“This whole investment has gone down the drain because of lack of knowledge,” he said.
Pointing out that scare resources are involved, Mukul said, “It is incumbent upon any policymaker or any authority to see that public money is not wasted and whatever investment is made is accentuated in a manner it benefits the people and the state.”
Echoing similar views, TMC state president Charles Pyngrope spoke in favour of promoting organic farming.
Emphasising that such initiatives should be done in a phased manner, he said that eventually fertilisers should be done away with.