Northeast is all set to be a global organic agriculture hub

Government policy-makers have decided to make entire region a global organic agriculture hub

India: Mizoram and Sikkim are two states in the region that have embraced organic farming in such a big way that they are not using pesticides and chemical fertilizers, while Meghalaya has started discouraging the use of chemicals and discovering the benefits of green farms. The policy makers in the region have decided not to use chemicals in farming and also to make the entire region a global organic agriculture hub.

The state government in year 2015 had declared that pesticides would not be used in the agriculture under Meghalaya Organic Mission, and the state government has seen the potential and can emerge as a global organic food hub given the low use of chemical fertilizers in farming. To give this initiative a push, central government is promoting organic farming with a budgetary allocation of USD17.81 million for the development of 'Organic Value Chain' in the northeast. Sikkim has become one of the leading states in organic farming by bringing under the organic certification process over 60,000 hectare land. Other NE states are also going to the green way. In addition, Mizoram has over 12,000-hectare area cultivated under organic certification process, while in Assam over 2,000 hectare has been cultivated under the organic certification process.

According to TechSci Research, the Union ministry of development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), has launched the initiative of Organic Farming Northeast in order to help the region by doing appropriate management of resources and using traditional ways of organic cultivation so that organic farming can be promoted. Policy-makers also have appealed to the youths to come forward to take up organic farming as livelihood initiative. The DoNER ministry is promoting the organic farming as a mission mode in the northeast region to reduce risks associated with climate change, disease and markets.

According to a recent report published by TechSci Research, “India Organic Food Market By Product Type, Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2011 - 2021”, the market for organic food in India is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of over 25% during 2016–2021, on account of changing food consumption patterns and increasing instances of contamination of farm produce with chemical fertilizers and pesticides, surging investments in organic food market and rising use of bio fertilizers. Organic pluses and food grains segment dominates India organic food market, as pulses and food grains form an important part of staple diets in India. Further, West India is anticipated to continue dominating the organic food in the country through 2021, on account of high disposable income levels and rising health consciousness among consumers in the region.