ICAR Sikkim Centre upgraded in to National Organic Farming Research Institute (NOFRI)
Realizing the need for a sound organic research support in the country, Shri Pawan Chamling, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Sikkim requested Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi for the establishment of Organic Farming Research Institute in Sikkim during his visit for Sikkim Organic Festival on 18 January 2016. In continuance, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Sikkim Centre, Tadong, Gangtok has been upgraded to National Organic Farming Research Institute (NOFRI) w.e.f. 16 May 2016 for the improvement of health and livelihood security in the country in general and Sikkim state in particular. Organic agriculture offers the most sustainable solutions for developing the agricultural sector and provides food security with least negative impact on the environment and also offers solutions for sound rural development by providing healthy food and creates jobs. The seven sections in agricultural sciences namely agronomy, agro forestry, agricultural entomology, horticulture, plant breeding, plant pathology and soil science and three sections in animal sciences viz., animal health, Animal Nutrition and Livestock Production and Management are dedicated towards the development of sustainable organic production technologies. Earlier, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi had set up a Research Complex at Tadong, Gangtok (altitude 1300 m amsl) on 11th October 1976 as one of the Regional Centre of ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Shillong. Since then many organic production technologies have been developed by the Centre which have been compiled in the form of two books and during the “National Conference on Sustainable Agriculture and Farmers Welfare” at Chintan Bhawan, Gangtok. Hon’ble Prime Minister of India released a book “Transforming Rural Sikkim: Year Round Organic Crop Production” edited by R.K. Avasthe, Yashoda Pradhan and Khorlo Bhutia. The first book ‘Handbook on Organic Crop Production in Sikkim’ was released by Hon’ble Chief Minister of Sikkim on August 15, 2014. Both the books were jointly published by Sikkim Organic Mission, Government of Sikkim, Gangtok, and ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Sikkim Centre, Tadong, Gangtok.