Indian Island region, Lakshadweep becomes India’s first 100% organic Union Territory in the country, and second in the country only after Sikkim. This comes after the UT received proper certifications and declarations under the Centre’s Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (organic farming improvement programme).
Key Highlights:
i.Synthetic chemical usage has stopped completely since 2005.There has been no shipment of chemicals and fertilizers to the island group for the last 15 years.
ii.Majority of the UT has already got certified under the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP)since 2011.
iii.Implementation of Organic and biological methods in Agriculture.
iv.Usage of Organic inputs like compost, poultry manure, green leaf manure.
v.Uniform Ban on sale, use and entry of synthetic chemicals for agriculture purpose is implemented since 2017 making the island chemical free zone.
vi.Certified under the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS)of India through the Centre’s Paramaparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana.
vii.Entire 32 kms land is categorised under organic area.
Opportunities for Women– 150 self-help groups will work to increase exports of products like virgin coconut oil, tuna pickles, and jaggery.
About Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana:
Aim- To support and promote organic farming, in turn resulting in improvement of soil health.
Launched in 2015, is an extended component of Soil Health Management (SHM)
Key Components
- Model Organic Cluster Demonstrations
- Model Organic Farm
About Lakshadweep:
India’s smallest Union Territory with 36 Islands.
Includes- 12 atolls, 3 reefs, 5 submerged banks, 10 inhabited islands.
Capital- Kavaratti
Administrator- Praful Khoda Patel
Recent Related News:
i.In accordance with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW), India ranked first in number of organic farmers and 9th in terms of area under organic farming. Notably, Sikkim was the first state in the world to become completely organic and other states including Tripura and Uttarakhand have set targets to be on the same line.
ii.Sikkim has turned out to be India’s first fully organic state by implementing organic practices. As per the guidelines laid down in the National Programme for Organic Production, 75,000 hectares of agricultural land was gradually converted to certified organic land by implementing organic principles.
