Chemicals and GMOs are heavy on the mind of many consumers these days. The Indian state of Sikkim is very aware of this fact. Every food produced in Sikkim is organic. States all over India are looking to follow suit, with plans being put in place to increase organic produce growth and reduce the country’s dependence on unnatural materials. Chances are, in India, organic is here to stay!
Key Takeaways:
- The State Department of Agriculture has launched a state sector plan titled, “Assistance for use of organic inputs by the farmer.”
- Under this new plan, farmers can receive significant assistance from the government when it comes to obtaining organic agricultural inputs, such as organic fertilizers and bio-pesticides.
- The recent resurgence of organic farming in India, however, is largely due to the increasing demand for organic products in Western nations.
“Just over two years ago, in September 2014, the Indian Government launched their revolutionary Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (National Agriculture Development Program) as a way to encourage organic farming, and decrease dependence on chemical agents. In January 2015, the state of Sikkim was declared as the country’s first 100 percent organic state. Sikkim produces 800,000 tons of organic produce that’s free of harmful pesticides, chemical fertilizers and toxic GMOs — accounting for roughly 65 percent of India’s total organic produce yields.”