In the US, unfortunately, organic agriculture is far away from becoming mainstream, particularly with companies like Bayer that are constantly pushing for pesticide use and application of intensive farming methods.
However, though the US continues approving GMOs, toxins, pesticides, and other intensive agriculture methods, other parts of the world are turning towards organic farming. One such example is the state of Sikkim, India which went 100 percent organic, but did face numerous challenges throughout the years.
Continue reading the article to learn more about this state’s amazing efforts.
Sikkim State Went 100 Percent Organic
Back in 2016, this state located in the shadow of the third tallest peak Mt. Kanchejunga went fully organic and it is the first state in India to do this and probably in the world. Three years later, there are a lot of things to be improved; however, the benefits until now are immense.
The authorities explain that their bee populations are rebounding, plants dependent on bee pollination have higher yields and the tourism is blooming. It has increased almost 70 percent since the state went organic. The soil quality has also improved and tourists consider it to be the eco friendly dream destination with 500 different butterfly species, 4500 different flowering plants, and rare animal species like the red panda, yaks, snow leopards, and the Himalayan bear.
The state also received a Future Policy Award in 2018 at a UN ceremony in Rome. Even though a lot of farmers have been struggling after the switch to organic, they also emphasize the rebound of crop yields. The Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi has recognized the state’s contributions and vowed to give support for other organic farmers throughout India.
What Kind of Challenges Are the Farmers Facing?
Until now, there have been concerns about the poor effect of the bio-pesticides used instead of the synthetic ones, as well as increase in crop diseases and rising prices.
Moreover, the state needed to rely on conventional crops from West Bengal to feed the population while the farmers were still learning how to optimize yield using assistance from government programs. However, these problems did not minimize the positive outcome of the program.
If you want to learn more about this significant project, check out the video below:
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