ICAR-NOFRI Showcased Technologies in Sikkim Organic Day
First Sikkim Organic Day was observed on Jan. 18, 2017 exactly one year after Hon'ble Prime Minister of India declared Sikkim as the first fully organic farming state of India. On the occasion ICAR-NOFRI, Tadong, Gangtok and ICAR-KVK East Sikkim showcased the organic farming and related technologies for resource conservation, organic conservation agriculture, year round organic vegetable production, secondary and speciality agriculture, Integrated Organic Farming System (IOFS) under Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav and Paramparagat Krishi Vikas in Sarmasa Garden, East Sikkim. The theme of the programme was ‘Kaushal Vikas Se Krishi Vikas’. The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Sikkim, Shri Pawan Chamling along with Shri Somnath Poudyal, Hon’ble Minister for Food Security and Agriculture Development Department, Government of Sikkim and other senior state officials viz., Shri Alok Kr. Shrivastava, IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Sikkim; Shri S. C. Gupta, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary and Agriculture Production Commissioner, Govt. of Sikkim; Shri G. P. Updhayaya, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Govt. of Sikkim; Shri K. Sreenivasulu, IAS, Secretary Department of Cooperation, Govt. of Sikkim; Shri Khorlo Bhutia, SAS, Secretary, HCC&DD, Govt. of Sikkim; Shri C. Zangpo, SCS, Secretary, Department of Tourism, Govt. of Sikkim; Smt. C. C. Wangdi, SCS, Secretary, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Govt. of Sikkim visited the stall. Dr. R. K. Avasthe, Joint Director, briefed the Hon’ble Chief Minister about the technologies developed by ICAR-NOFRI, Tadong who evinced great interest. The dignitaries were also informed about the benefits of all the technologies to the resource poor farmers in the state and stressed upon the enhancement of the cropping intensity by 200 to 300 per cent from existing 120 per cent in the State by adopting the different cropping systems developed by ICAR-NOFRI. The importance of low cost water harvesting structure (Jalkund) storage of rainwater during rainy season was emphasized upon for its utilization through drip/sprinkler for irrigation of vegetables during winter season to increase the cropping intensity. Later on in the Presidential address Honourable Chief Minister of Sikkim, Shri Pawan Chamling raised the issue for enhancement of cropping intensity by at least 200 per cent by growing two crops in the same field in a year in the presence of large number of farmers and state officials. All the Scientists, Subject Matter Specialists, Programme Assistants and RA/SRF/JRF participated in the programme.
Issued by: ICAR-NOFRI
