Sikkim : Hundred Percent Organic State of India

Sikkim : Hundred Percent Organic Farming State of India

Sikkim is one of the states of North East India, host to Kanchenjunga, the  highest peak in India. Almost thirty five percent of the state is covered by the Khangchendzonga National Park inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Image courtesy:esikkimtourism.in

Sikkim is the largest producer of cardamom in India, and world's second largest producer of spice after Guatemala. The state has highest share of land dedicated to organic farming in India. It is also among the India's most environmentally conscious states in India, having completely banned  plastic water bottles. Sikkim has been adjudged the cleanest state, overall best in education and tourist destination. It has the population of around 6.5 lakhs only where as more than 10 lakhs tourists visited the state last year.

Image courtesy:sikkimonline.com

Sikkim became India's first fully organic state in 2016. By implementing the practices and principles as per the guidelines laid down in National Programme for Organic Production, around 75,000 hectares  of agricultural land were gradually converted to certified organic land.

Image courtesy:esikkimtourism.in

It took nearly 13 years to fully implement organic farming since the idea was mooted way back in 2003. Today the demand for Sikkim's organic produce has soared and the farmer in the state are already earning 20% more than they did earlier.

There is an organic spirit that is running high in  Sikkim. Farmers are happy, youngsters are becoming entrepreneurs. Tourists are flocking. Business is flowing in from  all over the country. This upsurge is the result of transforming itself into fully organic state.

Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, declared Sikkim as the  first organic state of India. Shri Narendra Modi praised 'Sikkim being the first  fully organic state of India' again while addressing the Indian citizens in Germany on 30th May 2017.