The tiny, land-locked Himalayan State of Sikkim has become fully organic. All credit goes to Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling for making that possible.
It took almost 12 years to realize that dream. When Pawan Kumar Chamling made a declaration in the State assembly way back in 2003 to go completely organic, it was doubtful that many experts and policy makers would take it seriously. But it was his firm resolve and commitment that gradually converted 75,000 hectares of cultivable farm land into certified organic.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to formally announce this at a ceremony followed by a sustainable agriculture conference at Gangtok on Monday, January 18. It is said that the Prime Minister intends to announce a series of steps to promote organic agriculture in the country at the conference.
The political will demonstrated by Sikkim will certainly send a loud message for sustainability. The firm resolve to go organic has certainly made Sikkim a potential role model for the rest of the Himalayan States. Prime Minister Modi is already keen on turning the Northeastern States into an organic bowl, in contrast to the UPA regime’s effort to bring the 2nd Green Revolution intensive farming practices to Assam and beyond. This is a welcome initiative and needs to be extended to the entire Himalayan range.