Lok Sabha Question No. 2393 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-09
Subject: Organic Farming in Sikkim
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Devusinh Jesingbhai Chauhan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2393

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 9 TH   MARCH, 2021

## ORGANIC FARMING IN SIKKIM

2393. SHRI DEVUSINH JESINGHBHAI CHAUHAN:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of schemes under which the State of Sikkim has become the organic farming State;
- (b) the number of farmers covered under the scheme and the incentive plan of budgetary allocation for the same during the last three years;
- (c) the details of the scheme formulated by the Government to provide benefit to the farmers under the produce formula;
- (d) whether there is a difference in the prices of organic produce when compared to that of non-organic produce and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefore; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  is  trying  to  promote  and  support  organic  farming  and  its marketing to reduce the prices of organic produce, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) to (b) & (e) The state of Sikkim has become Organic in January 2016 with the support of  National  Project  of  Organic  Farming (NPOF) under NMSA  and state run scheme, 'Sikkim Organic Mission (SOM)'.

SOM was launched  in  2010  with  a  clear  road  map  of  converting  the  entire  state  into organic. The programme had several initiatives in the area of organic certification, consumer education and market development including local organic outlets.

Government of India has been promoting Organic farming through Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) for NE States including Sikkim since  2015-16  to  develop  domestic  and  export  markets  for  organic  produce.    The  scheme stress  on  end  to  end  support  to  organic  farmers'  through  value  chain  development  i.e.  from production to certification and marketing. Financial support is provided under the scheme to the farmers for inputs, certification, post-harvest infrastructure creation and value addition including marketing and branding, The details of financial support provided  is as under :

- Inputs: Rs. 25000/ha/3 years
- Collection, aggregation, grading unit: Rs. Up to   11.25 lakh
- Integrated Processing unit: up to Rs. 600 lakh
- Integrated Pack house: up to Rs 37.50 lakh
- Refrigerated vehicle: up to Rs 18.75 lakh
- Pre-cooling, cold stores, ripening chambers: Rs up to 18.75 lakh
- Transportation / 4 wheeler up to Rs 6.00 lakh

The number of registered farmers under organic certification in the state is 65,973where as under MOVCNER, 13,444 number of farmers have been brought under organic farming until 2020.An  amount  of  Rs.  78859lakh  has  been  released  to  the  State  under  the  MOVCDNER scheme.

Government also launched a dedicated web portal- www.Jaivikkheti.in/. online marketing platform for sale of organic products across the country.

- (c) Government of Sikkim formulated and launched Production Incentive Scheme (PIS) on 25th December 2020 to motivate farmers and boost production of buckwheat, turmeric, ginger, large  cardamom  and  orange    by  providing  incentives  to  growers  who  sale  their  products through  registered Institutes like  Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) , Sikkim State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation ltd. (SIMFED) etc.
- (d) Certified organic produce gets premium price in the domestic and international market in comparison to conventional produce due to its purity.

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