In January 2016, when Prime Minister Modi declared Sikkim as the first organic state in India, thunderous applause poured in. Ever since, this small state is inspiring the whole nation to go back to its roots and states like Arunachal Pradesh are already working towards becoming organic.

But what probably was missed is the fact that this ‘tag’ was the fruition of Sikkim’s 13 year penance.

In 2003, Chief Minister, Pawan Kumar Chamling, made a momentous declaration to shun chemical pesticides and fertilizers and return to natural methods of farming. There were protests, dissent and resistance. The journey wasn’t easy, the questions were hard and the challenges looked insurmountable. 

The potential of Arunachal in tourism and agri allied sector has been reiterated umpteenth times and yet the state is still talking the talk. To oversee an organic revolution, it must brace up for real challenges and also the government of the day must be convinced in its decision.

With a hostile terrain, Arunachal can never be self-sufficient in food production.  And the way forward to ensuring farmers prosperity would be in giving the value of being ‘organic’. Organic produce carries a premium demand which fetches good revenue for farmers.

Though yet to be truly on the road towards an organic state, the biggest advantage for Arunachal is the fact that it was never an extensive user of chemical methods of farming to begin with.

If the state government is keen on carrying the baton of change, it must go out and out spreading awareness on the ‘why’, and ‘how’ of the organic mission. Farmers must be provided seeds and manure, trained in organic methods and also sent outside the state to get advanced training.

Going forward, the state has to tackle the challenges of logistics and supply. It has to set up food processing units and find ways to manage perishable goods. The odds are lofty but we need to look at our successful sister-state and believe that it is doable.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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