Sikkim Organic Festival Jan 18-20,2016 :  Sikkim declared first fully organic state of India

Sikkim was declared as the first organic farming state of India on 18 January 2016. Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially announced during inaugurating the Sikkim Organic Festival 2016 in Gangtok Sikkim.

Sikkim is now the first fully organic state of India. Sikkim known as the Land of Flower, will now be also known as first organic state too. Alongside making the declaration, the Prime Minister also presented the Organic Certificate to Chief Minister of Sikkim Pawan Chamling.

On this occasion, three new orchid species developed in Sikkim were also launched. These species are Cymbidium Sardar named after Sardar Patel , Cymbidium Deen Dayal named after Deen Dayal Upaddhyay, Cymbidium Namo named after Narendra Modi.

The Sikkim Organic Festival was organized on the sidelines of National Conference on Sustainable Agriculture and Farmers Welfare that commenced on 17 January 2016. This conference was attended by agricultural scientists, State Agricultural Minister, Commissioners and Secretaries.

Around 75000 hectares of land over the years has been modified into certified organic land following the guidelines defined by National Programme for Organic Production. Some of the major crops produced in Sikkim are ginger, cardamom, turmeric, flowers, buck wheat, paddy maize, kiwi, Sikkim mandarin and millets.

During the Validectory function, the Chief Minister of Sikkim Pawan chamling annouced that January 18 will be observed as Organic Day in Sikkim every year following the suggestions from the Sikkim State Governor Shri Shriniwas Patil.

» See the news clip. (Courtesy: Sikkim Express)