ORGANIC VEGETABLE STORE LAUNCHED @GANGTOK

GANGTOK, July 1. Mrs. Nirmala Manger, 39 yrs has recently started selling organic vegetables in Kanchenjunga Vegetable complex (KVC) along with 5 other members of her self-help group (SHG). These days there is much talk about consuming organic food especially green vegetables to avoid any dreadful diseases and to keep healthier too. To mitigate the demand of organic vegetables for the conscious Gangtokians, She is doing a noble deed.
While speaking to Sikkim Mail Mrs. Mangar stated that their SHG have been collecting vegetables from Sirvani, Assam Lingzey, Kadamtam and Shenti and have been selling the same at KVC.
The SHG reaches the stall of KVC at 8am and starts selling vegetables till late evening. They have rented the new accommodation constructed by the government in the bazaar.
Mrs. Mangar informed that, the vegetables that are sold presently includes bamboo shoots, potatoes, tomatoes, bitter gourd, bottle gourd, beet root and lentils besides other seasonal vegetables. Adding further Mrs. Mangar stated that, they have to pay Rs. 5,400 per month as rent for the stall and besides that they even pay extra for electricity and services of sweeper’s which according to her is expensive.

Informing more Mrs. Mangar said that to mitigate the rents paid along with other expenditures incurred if vegetables are sold in higher prices then no consumers would buy due to high price as the vegetable sellers outside provides the outside vegetable in lower or cheaper rates compared to the organic produce.
She further informed that organic vegetables have to be sold at a little higher rate than the other vegetables and for that they have to convince the buyers. However she also added that after starting this business the members of the SFG have become self reliant and independent. They want to spread the message to all unemployed youth of the state to come forward and venture at every possible ways in earning their livelihood and be employed with a mind set of eradicating soaring unemployment problem added Mrs. Manger.

Furthermore Mrs. Manger mentioned that SHG are the groups of the farmers with identified common objectives, task, group identified and neighborhood and also added that it is a system where all members work together in addressing problems and utilize opportunities through participatory action with a cooperative decision considering the overall development of all members engaged.

Sikkim to become a completely organic state by 2015

Gangtok: Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling said he hopes to make the state a ‘fully organic state’

“Though the task ahead is challenging, we are absolutely committed to go totally organic by 2015,” Chamling told Director of FIBL Institute of Organic Research Centre of Switzerland, Urs Niggli when she called him here yesterday.
The Chief Minister hoped to receive all the possible technical support from Niggli and his institute to turn the state into fully organic, making Sikkim the first State in the country to achieve this status.

Niggli praised Chamling for the kind of work that is being done by him to make Sikkim an organic state.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between FIBL Institute of Organic Research Centre of Switzerland and Agriculture department of Sikkim for a long term partnership in which the department will receive technical support from the institute on research and training and other possible knowledge on organic farming.

Sikkim’s ‘organic farming’ highlighted in Bio Fach India 2009

GANGTOK, November 27: The State Agriculture Minister Dawcho Lepcha cited Sikkim’s ‘organic farming’ initiative during the international organic trade fair held in Mumbai from November 18 to 20.
Addressing the event held under the banner of ‘Bio Fach India 2009’, which was attended by Minister for State, Agriculture, Chairman Bio Fach, president ICCOA and delegates from different countries across the world, Mr. Lepcha said that Sikkim was putting concerted efforts towards organic farming. He said, the State, which was declared ‘Organic State’ in 2003 was presently in transition period and envisages becoming fully organic five years from now by 2015.
“Following the landmark decision, a total ban on subsidy transport and handling subsidy including commission to retail agents) in case of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides as a first small step was affected immediately to discourage farmers from resorting to such unsustainable options,” he said.
The Sikkim minister further informed that a number of organic initiatives have been launched with the noteworthy ones being setting up of a centre of excellence of organic farming, awareness programmes on the benefits of organic farming, demonstration programmes, adoption of bio-villages in pilot areas and initiation of the processes of internal control system and organic certification, etc.
“Morarka foundation and HARC are two major service providers along with local MEVEDIR facilitating the process of certification of the farms in the state and so far, a little more than 6000 ha are presently covered in the first phase,” Mr. Lepcha said adding that the target coverage to achieve was 60,000 ha or more by the end of 2015”.

Sikkim’s organic products showcased in Germany

Sikkim signs MoU with ICCOA for organic research on five major export-oriented crops from the State.

GANGTOK, November 21: A delegation of State Agriculture and Horticulture Department led by its minister Dawcho Lepcha, farmers and members from Mevedir participated in the International Organic Trade Fair – ‘BioFach India’ organized by Nurnberg/Messe Gmbh, Germany together with ICCOA (International Competence Centre for Organic Agriculture) and India Organic at Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai.
The International exhibition was inaugurated by Mr. Lepcha amidst a galaxy of players in organic field from across the globe, said a press release issued today. The Sikkim participants showcased Sikkim’s organic products. Biofach India also has given the participants a platform to learn about the various developments taking place in the organic sector around the world and also interact with other farmers and share their experiences, said the release.

“The state pavilion bedecked with all the organic farm produces from the state received lot of appreciation and enquiries from everyone visiting the stall,” the release further said adding that the same depicts the prospects of organic farming.

It is also informed that Mevedir, a private company from Sikkim serving as service providers for establishing Internal Control System for Organic Certification in Sikkim benefitted a lot with these interactions. “This event will serve as a boost to strengthen their forward linkages ultimately benefitting the organic farmers of the state,” the release said.

During the inaugural session, a Memorandum of Understanding between ICCOA and Government of Sikkim was signed which will deal with organic research on five major export-oriented crops from the state.

Mr. Lepcha in his inaugural address highlighted the different activities vis-à-vis organic farming being undertaken in Sikkim and strongly emphasized the vision of Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling, of converting Sikkim into a fully ‘organic state’ by the year 2015. He also expressed Sikkim’s aspiration to place itself as one of the prominent players in the global organic map in the near future. Lastly he wished Biofach a grand success and strongly commended the efforts put in by the organizers to hold an event of such a magnitude. He also thanked the organizers for recognizing the potential of Sikkim and for the invitation to participate in this international event on Organic Farming.
The delegation from Sikkim comprised of SK Sinha, Principal Director, FSADD, Phetuk T. Bhutia, Director NRM, Directors DK Rai and Topchen Lepcha, Addl. Director HCCDD, GP Chauhan, Jt. Director, KK Pradhan and other departmental officers. The team from Mevedir was led by the Managing Director Neil P Chettri, Executive Director Arjun Chettri, Chief Coordinating Officer Renzino Lepcha and other members.

Sikkim demands subsidy for organic fertilizers

Gangtok,October27: The Government of Sikkim, farmers and other stakeholders of Agriculture in the State came together on Monday, October 25, to urge the Union Government of India to extend its fertilizer subsidy support to organic fertilizers, while implementing the newly proposed direct subsidy system. They deliberated at a public consultation on the fertilizer subsidy reforms organized by Greenpeace India. Sikkim has adopted an organic agriculture policy and is planning to go completely organic by 2015. The State has adopted a plan to phase out the use of chemical fertilizers by 2010-11.
“We welcome the Central Government’s move to give fertilizer subsidy directly to the farmers, but we are concerned that the farmers of Sikkim will not be benefitted from this scheme as it only covers chemical fertilizers whereas States like Sikkim have adopted an organic policy. We demand that the subsidy support be extended to organic fertilizers as well, so that the farmers from this organic state are also benefitted”, said Mr. Dawcho Lepcha, Minister for Food Security and Agriculture Development, Sikkim, in a written statement which was read out at the meeting.
Mr. SK Gautam, Secretary, Department of Food Security and Agriculture Development who inaugurated the consultation said, “Greenpeace has been championing the cause of clean and green environment and I congratulate them for taking up this crucial subject of fertilizer subsidy reforms with more inclusive participation of various stakeholders in Agriculture.” He further said, “The Central Government while reforming the subsidy policy should adopt a holistic approach encompassing various aspects of production systems including bio-dynamics, organic farming, natural farming etc. Organic fertilizers and other soil amendments which are important constituents in improving soil health should also be brought under the purview of fertilizer subsidy policy.”
“Farmers who adopt eco-friendly agricultural practices have historically been denied the benefits of the Central Government subsidy”, said Gopikrishna SR, Sustainable Agriculture Campaigner Greenpeace India.

Sikkim to become a total Organic State by 2015

GANGTOK, August 28: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling today expressed his confidence that Nathu La border will become one of the most important land trade corridors in the country.
“We are sure that in due course of time, the Nathu La border will become one of the most important land trade corridors in the country”, said the Chief Minister in his keynote address during a seminar on the ‘Export Potential of Sikkim’ organized by EXIM bank here at Gangtok.
The seminar was organized in association with State Commerce and Industries department and Sikkim Chamber of Commerce which was attended by top brass of EXIM bank, Sikkim MP PD Rai, government officials and members of Sikkim Chamber of Commerce.
Pointing out that the Nathu La is being used now just for local border trade, Mr. Chamling said: “It is hoped that in due course, we will be able to open it up for more exports to the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China and their needs”.
“We are negotiating with the Chinese government through the Central government to upgrade the list of tradable items and to introduce new items and to do away with some obsolete items contained therein. This will make our cross-border trade more robust and need-based”, said Mr. Chamling.
The Chief Minister said that the State government required technological know how to harness its natural resources and cash crops in view of their export potential. He urged the EXIM Bank to think of possibilities of getting export benefits through institutions like NABARD for promotion of healthy varieties of large cardamom for the farmers of Sikkim.
“Our larger goal has been to transform our State into a total organic State by year 2015. And we need to tell the world more aggressively that what we produce and sell is 100 percent organic brining special tag value to our products”, Mr. Chamling said. He added that Sikkim is the hub of some very exportable commodities like ginger, cherry pepper, large cardamom, mandarin orange, passion fruits, cut flowers and medicinal herbs.
Mr. Chamling also urged the public and private sector industries to set up smaller industries in the state and said that his government has had a consistent policy to encourage the participation of the industrial houses for the industrialisation and economic development of the state.
The Chief Minister highlighted that despite locational disadvantage, the State had been making progress in rapid strides which were visible.
“Tourism is already booming in our State”, said Mr. Chamling asking the EXIM Bank to think of finding better ways of extending marketing opportunities to get overseas partners.
Sikkim Lok Sabha member PD Rai also spoke on the occasion.
Earlier, BP Pradhan, secretary of State Commerce & Industries department placed the welcome address while Sikkim Chamber of Commerce SK Sarda presented the vote of thanks