Sikkim Government on Thursday approved a proposal to ban supply of non-organic agriculture, horticulture and livestock produces into the state in a phased manner with effect from March 31 next year.
This was decided in cabinet meeting presided by Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling that deliberated a proposal by Horticulture and Cash Crops department to ban supply of non-organic food items in Sikkim in a phased manner from March 31, 2018.
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A notification to this effect will be issued in due course to take necessary action for compliance with the cabinet decision, an official release said.
The list of products to be prohibited for entry into Sikkim with effect from March 31, 2018 are – maize, beans, brinjal, bitter gourd, bottle gourd, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, capsicum, carrot, chayote, cucumber, drumstick, lady’s finger, leafy vegetables, spinach, pea, radish, tomato, pointed gourd, banana, guava, mango, orange, papaya, ginger, green chilly, turmeric, the release added.
The second list of products to be prohibited for entry with effect from March 31, 2019 are: millet/finger millet, soyabean, rapeseed, mustard, onion, potato, garlic, milk & packaged milk and mustard oil cake.
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The Chief Minister had publicly announced two days ago that his government will ban supply of fruits like banana and mango from outside from next year.
He had said that consumption of these fruits are hazardous for health of the people as it is ripened with use of chemicals.
Sikkim was last year declared as fully organic state though it heavily depends on markets in neighbouring states like West Bengal for supply of cereals, vegetables, pulses, poultry products and fruits to meet domestic consumption.