Nagaland organic by default, only needs certification
Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio speaking at the 5th International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) Asia Organic Youth Forum 2019 wich concluded in Dimapur on November 29. (DIPR Photo)
Morung Express
Dimapur | November 29
The 5th International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) Asia Organic Youth Forum 2019, hosted by Nagaland, concluded on November 29.
The 4-day event was organised by Nagaland Organic Konnect (NOK) in collaboration with the Government of Nagaland at the Niathu Resort in Dimapur.
The conclave took off on November 26 with over 30 upcoming organic entrepreneurs and farmers from Asian countries, including India, participating in a residential training during the initial 3 days. The participants, guided by international organic pioneers, were engaged in a series of group activities on the organic movement over the 3 days.
It culminated today with an ‘open forum’ headlined International Organic Forum under the topic ‘Meet the Organic Pioneers’, where international organic experts participated.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio also addressed the open forum where he emphasized Nagaland’s potential in organic farming. According to Rio, Nagaland has huge untapped organic potential, which when tapped can transform the state into an organic hub with scope for export.
If a small country like Taiwan can successfully sustain organic agriculture, he asked, “Why can’t we?” He said that Nagaland is “organic by default,” citing the age-old Naga way of farming that is still largely not exposed to use of industrial fertilizers.
While stating that the state government is also trying to promote Nagaland as an organic state, he added, “We have all the ingredients and the advantages. But we need expertise and we need to know the basics.” Stating that the youth has to take up the challenge, he said that the time has come to take up a strategic approach towards orienting the state’s fledgling organic movement to a market-driven production system with assured market access.
“It is an occasion for us to take the opportunity (with) the experts here to share their knowledge,” he said of the conclave. He expressed hope that the state’s “organic story” should be able to take off in 2-3 years and the NOK “will continue pursuing to bring real result which will benefit the farmers and community.”
With the geographical area covering some 16,57,900 hectares, Nagaland has so far 6000 hectares under cultivation certified as organic and another 7000 hectare under consideration National Programme for Organic Production.
Zhou Zhejian, President of IFOAM Asia emphasized the youth’s role in a sustainable organic future. “The youth is the future of organic farming and I hope and belief that the organic sector will grow in Nagaland (in a few years time),” he said.
Organic pioneers from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and India helmed the technical session. The experts included Miyoshi Satoka of Global Organic Textile Standard in Japan, who is also IFOAM Asia Vice President and Asian Local Governments for Organic Agriculture (ALGOA) Ambassador; Byeonggon Choi, ALGOA Project Officer of Goesan County, South Korea; Dr AK Yadav, former Director of the National Centre for Organic Farming, New Delhi; Bablu Ganguly, Board Member of IFOAM Organics International; Manisha Kairaly, Director of Enterprises and Design, The Timbaktu Collective; Joy Daniel, Director of Lipok Social Foundation (Maharashtra); Manoj Menon, Executive Director of International Competence Centre for Organic Farming; Roy Sabyasachi, Board Member of IFOAM and a founder member of IFOAM Asia Organic Youth Forum and, Zhou Zhejiang.
