Organic veggies on wheels!

NEED FOR EFFECTIVE MARKETING OF ORGANIC PRODUCE HIGHLIGHTED

Agriculture Minister Som Nath Poudyal has sought preparation of effective marketing mechanisms to promote organic farming in the state with the view to ensure benefit to the farmers, traders and the customers. Speaking at a Buyers & Sellers Meet organized by Sikkim Organic Mission at the Gangtok Municipal Corporation conference hall on Thursday, 27 Nov, Mr. Poudyal assured that the grievances and problems of farmers and traders will be solved through such a new policy, an IPR press release informs. He announced establishment of vegetable collection centers in all districts for the convenience of sellers and buyers and instructed that a committee be formed under the chairmanship of Chairman, SIMFED, to oversee these plans.

Earlier, Minister Poudyal flagged off a mobile vegetable distribution van for the GMC area.

The SIMFED chairperson, G. Rai, suggested that pricing of vegetables recognize the difference between organic and inorganic products so that farmers earn a premium for organic farming.

Earlier, the Horticulture Secretary K. Bhutia highlighted the importance and benefits of organic farming and informed that the state produced 1,811 metric tonnes of organic vegetables in East district, 1,490 MT in South, 108 MT in North and 529 MT in West Sikkim in the recent year, the release details. He also informed that recently, 21 farmer clusters were formed so that traders could acquire farm produce information more conveniently.