SHILLONG: While reacting to the statement of Union Finance Minister that a total amount of Rs 100 crore has been earmarked for development of organic farming in the North Eastern region, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma has informed that the State Government has already initiated a mission mode programme for organic farming.
“We have allotted Rs 14 crore for the organic farming programme. The programme which is initiated in the State is totally different from the programmes which are adopted in other States of the region,” Sangma told newsmen recently.
While stating the Government is committed to make Meghalaya as a brand State for organic farming, he said that they would launch various kinds of awareness programmes to encourage the farmers to take up organic farming.
“The objective of the State Government is to convert all forms of farming in Meghalaya into organic,” he said.
Welcoming the Central initiative, Dr Sangma however feels that the allocation of Rs 100 crore for promotion of organic farming, which will be divided among the North East states, was inadequate.
Meanwhile, official sources however informed that the Agriculture deparmtent has been issued a directive to discontinue the use of chemical pesticides and chemical manures.
“The department had recently issued quotations seeking for the supply of bio pesticides, bio fertilisers and bio manures only and not the chemical pesticides and chemical manures,” the official says adding, “This is a step towards ensuring organic farming so that health improves and diseases decline.”
Underscoring that organic products have been appreciated by many, Dr. Sangma said people these days are increasingly opting for organic products since the benefits of organic foods have been linked to good health considering that food products harvested through the use of chemicals such as pesticides and fertilisers have been known to cause several diseases.
In Meghalaya, a model organic farm for turmeric and ginger has been set up at Umsning, Ri Bhoi district in technical collaboration with the Central Institute of Horticulture, Nagaland and the International Competence Centre for Organic Agriculture.