U

[*••1

• --S-il
'I",>L ^ 'j:
5w, 'iar^w^rv
 Agricuhufe Science from Indian
'TA
Agriculture Research Institute, ,.,1
New Delhi, joined Aericulture
Department. Government of Sikkim as
Plant Protection Officer in 1975. He
retired as Princinal Director Agriculture

Agricultural. Horticultural, Luiturai

and Traditional Practices of Sikkim.

These works (25 books on various
subjects in English. Limboo and Nepali
so far) have been published by National
and International publishers.
His contribution have been
acknowledged with veneration bymany
organizations which includes 'Bhanii
Piiraskar\ 1984 by Nepali Sahitya
Parisad, Sikkim; "Hangsephona', 2001
by Yakthung Sapsok Saplon Chumbho,
Namdha Sukhim; and 'Sikkim Sahitya
Samman\ 2012 by the State
Government ofSikkim.

ISBN: 978-93-84077-02-0
Compilation/Editing : Contents
Shri Jash Raj Subba,
Ex-Principal Director Agriculture, Organic Farming
Government of Sikkim 1 Organic Farming - ANeed 1

2 Organic Sikkim: APoliticalWill

to Technologyfor Change 13
Published by:
Sukhim Yakthum Mundhum Saplappa (SVMS), 28
Gangtok, Sikkim.
3 TheRoleofBio-fertilizersinOrganicFarming
4 The Role ofBiodynamic inOrganic Farming 45

5 TheRoleofHI-Tech Horticulture
andPrecision Farming in Organic Farming 55
©: Jash Raj Subba Ca» No All-
AccNo.
Organic FarmingofAgricultural Crops
First Edition: 2014 Organic Maize 68
6
OrganicRice 80
7
Organic Wheat 104
8
Copy: 300
Organic Barley 111
9
Organic FingerMillet 115
10
Organic Buckwheat 122
11
Organic Pulse Crops 127
12
Computer setting by ;
Himadri Printings, 13 Organic Oil Seeds 144

Below Citizen Bank, 14 SeedProduction of Organic

Nam Nag, Gangtok, Sikkim Agricultural Crops 164
Phone No. 94341-44140

Organic Farming ofHorticultural Crops

Printed by: A. Fruits
Shivakoti Printing Press, 15 Organic SubtropicalFruits 174

Nivedita Road, Pradhan Nagar, 16 Organic Temperate Fruits 208

Siliguri - 734003, Hello: 0353-2513918 -iii-

-ii-

•• *•
•.I—*'
Contents

urganicr arming

! Organic Farming -ANeed 1

2 Organic Sikkim: APolitical Will

to Technology for Change 13

3 The Role of Bio-feitilizersin Organic Farming 28

4 The Role of Biodynamic in Organic Farming 45

5 The Role of HI-Tech Horticulture

and Precision Fanning in Organic Farming 55

Organic Farming ofAgricultural Crops

6 Organic Maize 68

7 Organic Rice 80

8 Organic Wheat 104

9 Organic Barley 111

10 Organic Finger Millet 115

11 Organic Buckwheat 122

12 Organic PulseCrops 127

13 Organic OilSeeds 144

14 Seed Production of Organic

AgriculturalCrops 164

Organic Farming ofHorticultural Crops

A. Fruits
15 Organic Subtropical Fruits 174

16 OrganicTemperateFruits 208

-iii-
 B. Spice crops Abbreviations used
17 Organic Spice Crops 232
Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services
All-India Coordinated Crop Improvement Project
Active ingredient per hectare
C. Vegetables Boarder Area Development Programme
18 Organic ColeCrops 254 Biodynamic
19 Organic Solanaceous Vegetables 264 Botanical Survey of India
20 Organic Leguminous Vegetables 272
Central Fruit Research Institute
Cow Pat Pit
21 Organic Root Crops 281
Central Potato Research Institute
22 Organic Cucurbitaceous Vegetables 286
Centrally Sponsored Scheme
23 Organic Leafy Vegetables 301 Central Rice Research Institute
24 OrganicBulbCrops 314 Directorate of Econonucs, Statistics and Monitoring and
Evaluation
25 OrganicTuber Crops 319
DONER Department ofDevelopment for North-East Region
26 Miscellaneous OrganicVegetables 331
Education Attainment Index
27 SeedProduction of Organic Vegetable Crops 338 Effective Microorganism
28 Importance of Organic Vegetables 349 Food and Agriculture Organization
29 Kitchen Garden -ANeed for FoodCorporation of India
Organic Vegetables 360 Fermented Plant Extract

30 Off-season Organic Vegetables 368 Fair Price Shop

FS&ADD Food Security andAgriculture Development Department
Farm Yard Manure

D. Floriculture
Gross Development Index
31 Commercial Floriculture Gross Domestic Product
372
Government of Sikkim

\ GSDP jross State Domestic Product

H&C |rticulture and Cash Crop Development Department
IDevelopment Index
^Kush Himalayas
vquinoline cit^^

-IV-
Abbreviations used

AlfA VS : Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services

AICCIP : All-India Coordinated Crop Improvement Project
a.i./ha : Active ingredient per hectare
BADP : BoarderArea Development Programme
ED : Biodynamic
BSI : Botanical Survey of India
CFRI : Central Fruit Research Institute
CPP : Cow Pat Pit
CPRI : Central Potato Research Institute
CSS ; Centrally Sponsored Scheme
CRRI : Centra! Rice Research Institute
DESME : Directorate of Economics. Statistics and Monitoring and
Evaluation

DONER : Department ofDevelopment for North-East Region

EAl : Education Attainment Index
EM : Effective Microorganism
FAO : Food and Agriculture Organization
FQ : Food Corporation of India
FPE : Fermented Plant Extract

ITS : Fair Price Shop

FS & ADD : Food Security and Agriculture Development Department
FYM : Farm Yard Manure

GDI : Gross Development Index

OCT : Gross Demestic Product
GOS : Government of Sikkim
GSDP : Gross State Domestic Product
H&CCDD : Horticulture and Cash Crop Development Department
HDI : Human Development Index
HK-H : Hindu Kush Himalayas
HQC ; Hydroxyquinoline citrate
HYV : High Yielding Variety

-V-
ICIMOD : Inlemational Centre for Integrated Mountain
Development
ICAR : Indian Council of Agricultural Research
IPM : Integrated Pest Management
IRRI : International Rice Research Institute
Lim : Limboolanguage
MFCS : Multi Purpose Cooperative Societies
MSP ; Minimum Support Price
MTA ; MidTermAppraisal
Mt : Metric tonne
NBSS & LUP: National Bureau of Soil Survey & Land Use Planning
NDC : National Development Council
NEC : North Eastern Council
Nep : Nepali language
NER : North-Eastern Region
NHPC : National Hydro Power Corporation
NPK : Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potash
NSC : National Seed Coqjoralion
NSDP ; Net State Domestic Product
PCYI : Per Capital Income Index
PDS : Public Distribution System
pH : Range of acidity or alkalinity measurement
RM & DD : Rural Managementand Development Department
SARD : Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development
SARD-M : Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development in
Mountainous Region
SSC : State Seed Corporation
TERl : Tata Energy Research Institute
t/h or t/ha ; Tonnes per hectare
q/h or q/ha : Quintal per hectare
UV : Ultra \^olet
VLW : Village Level Worker

-VI-
lOMOD International Centre for Integrated Mountain
Development
ICAR Indian Council ofAgricultural Research
IPM
Integrated Pest Management
KRI
International Rice Research Institute
Um Limboo language Preface
MFCS Multi Purpose Cooperative Societies
MSP The Green Revolution technologies in India, primarily due to
Minimum Suppoit Price
MTA Mid TermAppraisal their faulty application, proved not to be green. However, facing the
Mt
Metric tonne
worst food crisis during 1940s to 1960s, it brought anunprecedented
NBSS&LUP National Bureau ofSoil Survey &Land Use Planning progress in the national food production leading to the alleviation of
NDC
hunger and poverty in the country. It transformed India from a Ship-
National Development Council to-Mouth" situation to the "Right to Food Status", with a sizeable
NBC
North Eastern Council food and agricultural export by 2014. The Green Revolution has now
Nep
Nepali language waned; and there is an urgent need for developing and deploying
NER
North-Eastem Region greener technologies for "Second Green Revolution", to achieve
NHPC desired productivity and environmental sustainabllity systems to
NPK National Hydro PowerCorporation support the ever-growing population of the country. Organic
"••ogen, Phosphorus and Potash
NSC Agriculture could be avital supplementary option for the small and
NSDP National Seed Corporation marginal farmers of the 11 (eleven) mountainous Himalayan Special
PCYl
Net State Domestic Product Category States" of India "to combat the impact of mountain
PDS Per Capital Income Index specificities". FAG definition of "Organic Agriculture is a unique
production management system which promotes and enhances agro-
PH Public Distribution System ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles and soil
RM&dd Rt u^1 anagement alkalinity measurement
and Development Department biological activity, and this is accomplished by using on-farm
SARD agronomic, biological and mechanical methods in exclusion of all
SARD-M ustainableAgriculture and Rural Development synthetic off-farm inputs".

ssc
Mounminous Development Indian organic initiative staried with setting up ofregulatory
mechanism, necessary for exports, rather than technological research
lERl State Seed Corporatition and development. The decision ofgovernment ofSikkim to go organic
t/hor t/ha
Energy Research Institute was based on the premise that farming in this hilly state was
tonnes per hectare traditionally organic before its merger to the Indian Union in 1975;
•3^ orq/ha
W Quintal per hectare andit will be tothebenefit to thefarmers who own anaverage of 1.9
Ultraviolet hectares of farmland with minimal chemical fertilizer use (12 kg/ha
VLW
^'UageUvelWorker
-vu-

-VI-
compared to 90 kg/ha of national average) and inorganic pesticides The Strategy adopted in the initial period (2003-09) to
even at its post-merger period (2002); butalso to maintain quality of transform the dream of Organic Sikkim was:
environment of the state. Furthermore, with the implementation of
• Formulation of Concept and Action Plan - 'Going for Organic
'Technology Mission for Integrated Development ofHorticulture in Sikkim';
North-Eastem Region," during the VIII, IX Five Year Plan and • Constitution of Sikkim Slate Organic Board;
onwards, the farmers of Sikkim had already started cultivation of • Discouraging use of Chemical Fertilizers and Chemical Pesticides;
'Comparative Advantage Horticultural Crops' in different Agro- • Promoting Organic Manures through Resource Mobilization;
climatic Zones of Sikkim for optimum benefit. The state also has • DevelopmentofBio-Villages;
opportunities to develop niches basedorganicagribusiness enterprises, • Improving and Creating Manure Production Infrastructures;
providing self employment to educated youth and improving state • Technology Development through Research mobilization;
economy. Because of unique agro-climatic conditions and traditional • Organic Seed Production;
farming cultures, there are recognizable crop produce niche • Soil Health Assessment and Improvement; and
commodities in Sikkim, such as large cardamom, green ginger, • Conduct of National and State Workshop on Organic Farming
oranges, quality tea, seed potato, passion fruits, buckwheat, and regularly for Road Map preparation and concurrentevaluationof
temperate and European off-season vegetables. Adding value, by the progress.
way of growing these organically, holds the promise to make these
niche commodities, for state tourism, and national and international From 2010 onwards, the State Government is implementing
markets. There exist strong possibilities of developing the Sikkim "Organic Mission 2015" to transform the entire "Subsistence
Brand of Organic Commodities. Agriculture" into "High-Value Organic Enterprise" by 2015. The
strategies adopted for the Mission is:
With these positive points of the state, Shri Pawan Kumar
• Institutional Framework setup for Implementation of Sikkim
Chamling, the Chief Minister of Sikkim envisioned to develop the
Organic Mission 2015 - Establishment of Executive Body of
Sikkim's "Subsistence Agriculture" into a "High-Value Organic
Sikkim Organic Mission;
Enterprise" by transforming Sikkimto a "Fully Organic Sikkim"in
• Setting upLivelihood Schools on Organic Agriculture;
2002-03. He made a historic declaration by announcing a policy to
transform Sikkim into 'Totally Organic State"by passinga resolution
• Capacity Building ofLocal Youth;
• Technology refinement on Organic Orchard Management;
in the SikkimLegislative Assemblyin the year 2003.With this, Sikkim
• Combating Ginger Rhizome Disease in Organic Way;
became the first State in the country to enact such a far sighted and
• Internal Control System (ICS) Development;
visionary policy of transforming Sikkim into a 'Sustainable Organic
• Incentives for Adoption of Organic Farming;
Farming Enterprise'. His dream of transforming every inch of • Improving Organic Inputs for Soil HealthManagement;
Sikkimese soilinto organically viable andsustainable enterprise has • Streamlining Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Organic Way;
been wholeheartedly accepted by the farming community of Sikkim. • Conducting Workshops and Seminars regularly to clear the
This vision of the Chief Minister ofSikkim has become a goal of the bottlenecks;
Nation for all theelevenHimalayan 'Special Category States of India' • Branding and Marketinglinkages;
with the address of the Prime Minister of India in both the Houses of • Exploring the Organic Village Tourism;
Parliament on 11'^ June 2014.

-vm-
 'Kr''-r9''

• Development of Organic Seed Production;

• Adopting Animal Husbandry as part of Organic Mission; and,
• Development and Adoption of Participatory Guarantee System Organic Farming - A Need
(PCS) for Organic Certification and Sustainable Organic Fanning; .-.2
Organic Farming is gaininggrounds in the wake of serious threat
The two books on organic farming in Sikkim already published to Food Security and restoration of our natural resources of land,
namely, "SikkimTowards Fully Organic State by 2015" by FS&ADD water and rich biodiversity of flora and fauna in Sikkim. As the land
and H&CCDD, Government of Sikkim, and "Organic Sikkim leading resources are shrinking, the per capita available land has come to
the Change" by Tej Pratap and C.S. Vaidya. The books have around 0.10 ha. Soil degradation due to erosion (16 t/ha. on an
highlighted thedetails of "Road Map" and"Push factors based organic average) entails a tremendous lossofnutrients in a highrainfall region
strategy" inclusive of "Sikkim - Organic Mission 2015". Dr. Tej Pratap likeSikkim. Water logging particularly incommandareasespecially
and C.S. Vaidya have also emphasized the next step, i.e.. implementing during summer in Sikkim makes crop production difficult. Our
"thepull factors based strategy." "Yuma, Arizona... Showing What resources are also not well managed. Deforestation, intensive
We're Growing?" Arizona State of USA demonstrated the best
cultivation without organic matter, excessive irrigation without
example of promoting Agri-Tourism in the world. Similar benefits
could be harnessed in Sikkim also in future.
drainage, dryland and rainfed farming without scientific land
management practices have all undermined our wealth resources.
This book entitled "Organic Sikkim - Technology for Change" With intensivefarmingsystemssincethe dawn ofdemocracyin 1975
has documented the technologies on 'Organic Farming' presently A.D., spring water resources are also depleting. Reservoirs and
available with us. The book may be useful for extension functionaries, other water-bodies have lost their capacity due to disturbance of
educated youth and the farmers in general who are involved in naturaldrainagesystems causedbyruralroadnetworkconstruction
transforming the'Substance Agriculture into a High-Value Organic and urban settlements. With enhanced use offertilizers and pesticides
Enterprise' and thus 'reduce the impact of mountain specificities' in from the dawn ofdemocracy due to intensive cultivation of crop till
the Hindu-Kush Himalayan Region. 2002, the quantity and quality of land, water, biodiversity have
tremendously affected.

Fertilizers have been found to contain lead, cadmium and

radium226,a fact, whichwasnotrecognized hitherto (Ureacontains
5 ppmlead and 1ppm cadmium; DAP contains 188 ppm leadand
109ppm cadmium; Super Phosphate contains 609 ppm lead and
187 ppm cadmium). Some of the common pesticides are highly
toxic and affect our food chain (Malathion - Toxic >40 times on
breaking down; Aldrin, Dieldrin, Lindane, BHC,HCH, DDT, 2,4-
Dpersistent infood chain). Persistent organic pollutants are deadly
-1-

-X-
 poisons. Residual effects ofpesticides arehigh infruits andvegetables. "OrganicFarming"is now regarded as the bestsolution.Organicor
Potablewaterfordrinking, soil fertility, environment andhumanhealth Ecological Farming has been observed tobefeasible inthelongrun
' would be severely affected. Our market survey indicates that the interms ofsoil fertility, stability ofcrop yields andeconomy. Though
fruits and vegetables are highly contaminated with pesticides. labourexpenses are high inorganic farming the input costs especially
Spinach, cauliflower, bhindi andbrinjal arewith pesticides andheavy fromexternal sources areminimal, thus effecting goodreturns. This
metals chromium (0.97 mg/1) and cadmium (0.02 mg/1). The isinspite of lower yields byabout 10percentin the initial years of
consequences of continuous use of fertilizers and pesticides over a "Conversion" in the organic farms or orchards. Production offhiits
prolonged period revealed that: 70% of leached NO, and agro- (47 mt), vegetables (81 mt), cashew (0.43 mt), arecanut (0.3 mt)
chemicals reach water bodies; soil fertility build up is neglected; and other horticultural crops on about 7 per cent of total cultivated
imbalance in use of nutrients; micro-nutrient deficiencies increase; area under all cropsconsumedaround24 per cent of the pesticides
toxins build up in soils; and pesticides cause decline in pollination, used in the country (2002). Even if 40 to 50 per cent of the area
due to mortality of pollinators; etc. underthese cropsin thecountry israised organically, they can redress
theecological disaster to a great extent. Besides, theyfetch a high
premium of20 to 30 per cent for vegetables and sometimes 100 to
Basic Information on Organic Farming 200 per cent for fruits. Export of organically produced fruits and
1.0 Definition ; vegetables can be promoted. From this country's scenario, the
Organic farming isfirst andforemost anapproach toagriculture- ecological disasterandthe futurefate of biodiversity hotspot- Sikkim
could be imagined.
horticulture-sylviculture system where theaim istocreate integrated,
humane, environmentally and economically sustainable production
systems, which promote soil, plant, animal and environmental health 3.0 Concerns and urgency to adopt Oi^anic
and well being. It is also defined as a policy seeking to promote Farming:
technically sound, economically viable, environmentally non- Major concerns to be examined if we do not switch over to
degrading, and sociallyacceptable use of natural resources- land, organicfarmingare:
waterand geneticendowmentto promotesustainable development
i Fertilizer consumption will raise to 30 m tonnes by 2025 A.D.
of agriculture. It is a production process of organic food products from the current level of 15 m tonnes;
underthe legally enforceable standards andissubject totight controls
on inputs and an increasing number ofconsumers for high standards ii. The demandfor pesticideswould doublefrom the current0.8
of assurance about production methods. lakhtoiuies;

iii Drainingthe exchequergoes unabatedfor buyingfertilizers and

2.0 Why Organic Farming? chemicals and if subsidies are not cut down;
"Organic Farming" is essential - to restore our natural
iv. Even with the increase in the use of fertilizers and chemicals,
resources, to safeguard our environment and to obtain pesticide- the rate offood production may not increase;
residue-free vegetables, fruits, spices andotherfood commodities.
-3-
-2-
 "Organic Fanning" is now regarded as the best solution. Organic or
poisons. Residual effects ofpesticides are high in fiiiits and vegetables. Efcological Farming has been observed to be feasible in the long mn u I..

Potable fordrinking, soil fertility, environment and human health internis ofsoil fertility, stability ofcrop yields and economy. Though 9
would be severely affected. Our market survey indicates that the labourexpenses are high in organic fanning the input costs especially
fruits and vegetables are highly contaminated with pesticides. from external sources areminimal, thus effecting good retums. This
Spinach, cauliflower, bhindi and brinjal are with pesticides and heavy is in spite oflower yields by about 10 per cent in the initial years of
tnetals chromium (0.97 mg/1) and cadmium (0.02 mg/1)- "Conversion" inthe organic farms ororchards. Production offhiits
consequences ofcontinuous use offertilizers and pesticides over a (47 mt), vegetables (81 mt), cashew (0.43 mt), arecanut (0.3 mt)
prolonged period revealed that: 70% of leached NO, and agro- and other horticultural crops onabout 7 percentof total cultivated
chenucals
"ti ^ce inreach waterbodies;micro-nutrient
use ofnutrients; soil fenility build up is neglected,
deficiencies increase,
area under all crops consumed around 24 per cent ofthe pesticides
used in the country (2002). Even if 40 to 50 percent of the area
ins uild up in soils; and pesticides cause decline in pollitiatict'' underthese crops inthe country israised organically, they can redress
dueto mortalityofpollinators; etc. the ecological disaster toa great extent. Besides, they fetch ahigh
premium of20 to 30 per cent for vegetables and sometimes 100 to
asic Information on Organic Farming 200 per cent for fruits. Export oforganically produced fruits and
vegetables can be promoted. From this country's scenario, the
1.0 Definition: ecological disaster and the future fate ofbiodiversityhotspot- Sikkim
could be imagined.

humane envirJ*'^" diresystem where the aim is to create

sys^sX^n^'^^^^'^^dallysustainablepmdu^ 3.0 Concerns and urgency to adopt Organic
Farming:
andwellbeine ^'^^^'P'^' dnimalandenvironmental ^ Major concerns to beexamined ifwedonotswitch over to
technic^lv'nn H as apolicy seeking to organic farming are:
degrading and so ' viable, environmentally "
waterand genetic TH^ ^se ofnatural resources - . i Fertilizer consumption will raise to30mtonnes by2025 A.D.
riculture Tti ^ sustainable develop from the current level of 15 m tonnes;
rth,=.u^..)i ^^^'^dction process oforeanic food pf^
i The demand for pesticides would double from the current 0.8
lakh tonnes;

iil Draining the exchequer goes unabated for buying fertilizers and
.0 Why Organic Farming? j chemicals and if subsidies are not cut down;

iv. Even with the increasein the use of feitilizeis and chemicals,
resoiircesaosafeI""^H^" -to restore our the rate offood production may not increase;
residue-free veer environment and to obtain p^^^ . g -3-
^ spices and otherfood
-2-
 V. Safe food and residue-free vegetables and fhiits would not be 4.0 Advantages and disadvantages of Organic
available; Farming:

I vi. Other sadand catastrophic effects that follow would undermine

our resources and lead us to permanent sickness and even to
4.1 Advantages:
• Envisages developing and maintaining an ecological system
.

our death knells! where nature solves problems with proper management,
thereby offering clearbenefits to the environment.
viL Leached nitrates, phosphates and agro-chemicals reach water
bodies making them unfit for drinking. While 45 mg NOj/litre • Does help in conserving natural resources and in improving
is the upper limit for portability, many ofour wells and other biodiversity;
water sources exceed this limit. Oxygen is depleted.
Accumulation ofNO, in the human bladder can lead tocancer, • Energy use in organic faiming systems is lower than that in
conventional farming systems,
viii. Pesticide-residues observed in ourvegetables and fmits, in . Contributes to reduction of carbon dioxide emissions and
many instances have reached lOlo 120 ppm. pollution;
ix. Even breast milk has become unsafe as presence of DDT is . Have been found to conserve or promote soil fertility and
detected in breast milk; stnictuie moreeffectivelythan conventionalcounterparts. Soils
X. Food chain isaffected leading toeco system imbalance and oforganicfarms havehigherorganicmattercontentmgeneral,
atrophies in man and animals; . The manure management under organic fanning systems
xi. Continuous threat to Bio-diversity offlora and fauna, exists
advocates the use oforganicfertilizers, m^ures, compos^
andlegumesaspartofrDtations.TTiepracUcehasdemonstra^
with intensivechemical-agri-horti-sylviculture systems, and to minimize therateofnitrateleachingperhectarefrom soil as
compared to conventional farming systems;
xiL Sikkim has an amazing natural environment, with arich variety
offauna and flora within avery small geographical area. Indeed . Prohibited from using herbicides, fungicides and pesticides,
such is the variety, that the area is termed as abiodiversity runoff and spraydrift pose no problems;
"hotspot"-oneofonlytwoinIndia(and thirtyfour worldwide).
Although Sikkimcomprises only0.2% ofthe land areaofIndia, • Envisagescontainingbioticpressuresonland;
it contains an astounding 26% ofthe nation's biodiversity • Some evidences show that cows have more lactations and
(including 4,500 species offlowering plants, 550 species of longer life expectation;
birds and more than 600 species ofbutterflies). Unless Organic . The restrictions that the standards impose on antibiotic use
Farming is adopted there is acontinuous threat to the State's provide astimulus for organic farms to adopt husbandry
Biodiversityofflora and fauna with theintensive chemical-agri-
horti-sylvicultuie systeminthebiodiversi^'liotspot''ofSikkim. -5-

-4-

.liG— '• ' • ' _ — .

M - r '
. ^ r>
111!
 fertilizers, bio-feitilizers, manures, bio-pesticides andbeneficial
methods that are health and welfare friendly; micro-organisms;
Produces social and economic benefits; Lack of trained manpower for organic food production;
> >illi

^prove upon the prevalent mixed farming system by Lackof well-equipped andscientifically manned quality control
grating farming systems in more scientific and sustainable laboratory;
erto generate steady farm incomes;
Lack of organicanimalfeeds;
relian^^Paced^^velopment
on locally oroffarming
farm derivedsector with maximum
renewable resources; Lack ofco-operative marketing fororganic foods;

Implicit within the overall organic 5.0 Initial Difficulties in switching over to
satisfyingenlightened Organic Farming:
producer and consumer aspirations; practices, Organic Farming tobe adopted on a large scale offers itsshare
ofdifficulties infinding alternatives to fertilizers andplantprotection
chemical pesticides which the agriculturists are so accustomed
programmestom
and not to treat thf
precaution. I
problem from happenm^i
hitherto. Package ofpractices tobeadopted for the crops inquestion
problem once it emerges. are not readily available for organic farming. Inputs fororganic
farming especially for disease and pest management involve labour
4.2 Disadvantages; intensive practices. This indigenous traditional knowledge needs to
beexplored. Considering the nature ofhazards that these chemicals

, avadable^no^oXbS^kl^^^ requisiteoftheorganic
country;inputs
land us in leading to upheavalsin health and harmonyof nature,we
^ ^^utin whole have to shun these chemicals right now. In Sikkim, the people are
very richinindigenous knowledge systems whetheritis forindigenous
ititwouldbeve,^diffl^'
Wouldbe vervdiffi^^f^
f^ research information
informati and suppo^^' food resources management systems or bio-diversity protection
fanning;
fammg; *• convince
txinvince farmers lto adopt
e--organic
- systems. Otherwise also, the state has started using these chemical
fertilizers and pesticides since 1975-76 onwards only and their
consumptionis also to a limitedextent.
foodprodnctio™'™'^ "ganic standards so far for organic
Safe usethrough Integrated Nutrition Management (INM) and
• ^""'^creditaUon and cemr • been Integrated PestManagement (IPM) is nottenable andacceptable if
trained till to datp In ".-v-uuiniy-
"irication procedures have "Organic Standards" have to be adhered to. The very manufacture
^^tnthecountrv
' ^ganicfoodmarlcPte
- nrr>o„:_r. of thesedeadly poisons is not safeto biosphere andhumanwelfare
eitherfornoworforfuture. Letourpeople andgenerations to come
' ^kofinfinstm developed;
fnrproduction oforganic seeds, organic -7-

-6-

SSSi
 pnce. Thus organic produce for internal consumption and for wi£h such labeling.Recordsof conversionperiod and thereafteron
mmmercialexportable market surplus needs to confirm to Organic inputs, crop yields, their use and markedng have to be maintained.
standards and theserequire proper"Certification" and "Labeling". Thebiological potential of thesoil has to beupgraded through green
manure, cultivation of legumes,incorporationof organic material
and compost preferablyproducedwithinthe farm.Pestsand diseases
^ ^'^^^Tradeinoiganicagriculturalproductshasbeenregulated
world trade in organic products: have to be controlled by a combination ofmeasures such as rotation,
choice of species andvarieties, mechanical cultivation, encouraging
bylawmainlythrough organizations listed. naturalenemies of pestsetc. Inspectionandcertificationare essential
in five areas;
"" byNOSB (TheNational
ProductionAct, 1990. Rules
Organic Standards are framed
Board). L Crop production;
n. EEC-Regulationson"OiganicAgriculture, 1991 (2092/91). iL Animal husbandry;
iii ^eBasicRulesofIFOAM (TheInternational Federation of iiL Storage and transportation;
^g^cMovements) withHeadquarter at Thaley in Germany
has framed mles for organic agriculture. iv. Processing and packaging; and

IV- CodexAlimentarius"oftheFAO(FoodandAgriculture V. Labeling and consumer information.

Orgamzation). These guidelines are parallel to the EEC
Regulation and guide the Uw-makers.
At the beginning, the producer and the inspection body should
draw up full details of areas earmarked for organic cultivation and
7.1 IFOAM-INDU Standards: all other production details followed by storage, processing,
and "Concepts, Principles transportation and marketing arrangements. Documentation or
IFOAM ™ written documents be kept for inspection for two to three scheduled
visits and one unannouncedinspection.List of permittedmaterials
8.0 Certification: oforganic and mineral origin have to be studied before using them.
Most organic forms such as FYM, Poultry manure, slurry straw,
plant residues etc., should be composted well before use. Basic
recognizLrertl^ngagencf^^^^^^
produce in accordance with the h '
""""'"=''"8 slag, naturalrock phosphate, limestone, chalk, gypsum, clay etc.
may beused butneeds tobegenerally approved for limited use as
perneeds bythe inspection body. Plant diseases and pests heave to
convertedand thisperiodmaybe4to5yets Tmth ®'' "'dT becontrolled through approved preparations of plantextracts and
to a limitedextent throughsulphur, bordeaxmixture etc.
producetsnotthom-Orgatncagdcuiiurairdutttctr^^^^^