Sikkim team participates in International organic trade fair in Germany

GANGTOK, 29 Feb: A team comprising of Principal Director, PT Bhutia, Director, Khorlo Bhutia, Additional Director, KK Pradhan, Additional Director, Karma Bhutia, Advisor  Farmers Cell, Deepak Gurung and Convenor Farmers Cell, DN Sapkota  participated in the international organic trade fair ‘BioFach 2012’ at Nuremberg, Messe, Germany from 15-18 February.
A press release informs that the team from Sikkim participated in the Congress on Sustainability in the Organic Movement. The forum discussed the sustainability of the organic sector and the strategies to be taken up worldwide for sustainable organic agriculture. Some of the speakers at the congress also applauded the organic movement in Sikkim and highlighted the potential of products like Buckwheat and Large cardamom in the international market, the release mentions.
On 19 February, the delegates from Sikkim along with other delegates of India visited The Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) at Switzerland and interacted with the director Prof. Dr. Urs Niggli. A publication of Sikkim Organic Mission was presented to Dr. Urs. FiBL team appreciated the Sikkim’s fast development in organic agriculture and also applauded the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister of Sikkim, Pawan Chamling, the release informs.
BioFach 2012, the world largest organic Trade Fair brought together 2,500 exhibitors from different parts of the globe and approximately 45,000 trade visitors from around 120 countries of the world. There was presence of more than 40 exhibitors from India, with products got delighted on a display area of over 1,000m². In an Indian Stall major products of international interest were Buckwheat and Large cardamom from Sikkim, Naga King Chilli, Pine apple and Fibreless Ginger  from Nagaland, Nutmeg, mace and Black pepper from Kerela, Dry Ginger and turmeric powder from Himachal Pradesh and the publications from Sikkim. The Indian stall with the special attraction of Sikkim’s organic products invited various queries on market development, products, innovations and market observation. The publication on Sikkim Organic Mission was also distributed to the participants from various countries.
The fair had special session of buyer-seller meet where the Sikkim delegates interacted with international organic traders and deliberated on different products, their availability and status of organic farming in Sikkim, the release adds.