In a move to promote the organic products of the farmers in the State, the brand name ‘Organic Manipur’ has been launched so that it could be recognized under the above brand name.
Manipur Forest and Horticulture Minister Thounaojam Shyamkumar on Tuesday launched the brand name during an event in Imphal.
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Speaking to media on the side-lines of an event, Minister Shyamkumar said the Centre has been providing livelihood to the organic farmers of the State under various schemes. Raising concern over the rise in cases of health issues and diseases, he stressed on the need for switching to organic cultivation and usage of vermicompost instead of chemical fertilisers.
He also informed that the department is working hard to provide loan to make vermicompost to the farmers of the State in collaboration with the banks soon.
Project Officer K Debadutta Sharma of Manipur Organic Mission Agency said in the first year of organic cultivation covered an area of 5,000 hectares of land, out of which 2,000 hectares of land was used for cultivating black rice or aromatic rice (chak-hao) in the valley districts.
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Meanwhile 3,000 hectares of land was used for cultivation of ginger, turmeric, orange, lemon, pineapple and king chilli (u-morok) in an area of 500 hectares of land equally in six hill districts.
Stating that the State will get the C2 certificate (organic certification), the Minister said once the certification is procured, the organically certified products of the State can be sold under the brand name ‘Organic Manipur’ worldwide.
Chairman L Radhakishore Singh of Manipur Pollution Control Board and Khadi and Village Industries Board and junior marketing officer, Parul Mehta of Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India were also present in the event.
Notably, to promote the organic produces/products, the first ever organic outlet in the North-east region was opened in Imphal under the central scheme – Mission Organic Chain Development for North East Region, of the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in November last year.