Pawan Chamling, Sikkim Chief Minister exhudes confidence that the second phase of organic farming in the State, will surpass the production of 2017. The second phase of the organic farming has started in the state from this month.
Last year, Sikkim produced about 80,000 metric tonnes of various organic vegetables. Even though the state produced 80,000 metric tones, there was a shortfall of around 1,000 metric tones.
Pawan Chamling in his address, at the Sikkim Organic Day 2018 , said the second phase will see optimum production of organic vegetables and excess would be up for sale outside the State.
A senior State Government official said, the expected production this year should meet the deficit.
CM Chamling called upon the farmers to practise cash-crop farming and advocated the use of medicinal herbs and plants.
The Chief Minister emphasized the need to maintain kitchen gardens to ensure that not a ‘stretch of rural land’ is left barren.
Chamling said a total of 14 co-operative apex banks were functional in the State and farmers should make maximum use of the loan facility provided by the Sikkim Government. He expressed hope that only organic and local produce will be sold in Sikkim after March 2018.