Third batch begin training for organic farming field functionaries in South Sikkim

NAMCHI, 13 Mar: The third batch of the three-month training for organic farming field functionaries of South district commenced today at Bermiok Tokal Livelihood School for Organic Farming situated at Bermiok Tokal Agriculture Farm under Temi Namphing Constituency. A total of 104 educated unemployed youth of South District are enrolled in the third batch.
Deputy Director and In-charge of the school, Sonam Gyatso Bhutia briefed the participants on the aim and objective of the training and the state governments’ vision of making Sikkim a fully organic state by 2015. He said that the government wants to ensure employment opportunities for youth in this sector.
Resource persons from Morarka Foundation, a service provider agency, Mohan Chaudhary informed that a 100 days curriculum has been prepared for the training that includes one month each for theory, practical and project preparation. The successful candidates will be provided with a job as field functionaries in various service providing agencies working within and outside the state, he informed.
Additional Director, Sikkim Organic Mission (SOM), Kiran Kumar Pradhan later informed that till now 6,000 hectares of land has been certified and other 38,000 hectares are in the process of conversion out of the total 58, 000 hectares of land to be certified within the targeted period i.e 2015. With the completion of the targeted area, Sikkim will be totally organic by 2015 as per the vision of the state government, said Mr. Pradhan.
He further informed that the training for field functionaries of West District at Daramdin Livelihood School will commence from 14 March and for East and North Districts it will begin at Tadong Livelihood School from 15 March.
He mentioned that 460 candidates have passed out from these livelihood schools and most of them have got employment under various service provider agencies.