Steps taken up to formulate 'Organic Policy': Devadutta
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, April 03 2022: Mission Organic Manipur (MOMA) project director K Devadutta has stated that process is underway to formulate an Organic Policy' for Manipur so as to upgrade the state into a fully fledged organic state.

He made the statement during the inaugural function of a two-day media workshop on 'Role of Media In Organic Farming In Manipur' organised by Khelen Thokchom Trust in association with MOMA at the complex of Manipur Mountaineering Institute (MMI), Lamdan in Churachandpur district on Sunday.

Highlighting the works taken up by MOMA, Devadutta said that that under Manipur Organic Value Chain Development of North East Region (MOVCDNER) scheme, the agency has utilised around 37,500 hectares of land for producing organic products.

MOMA has sold around Rs 80 crore of organic products grown in the state since 2016, he informed, while adding that efforts are being made to further increase the volume of export.

On top of this, a project is being launched to use the phumdi (biomass) of Loktak Lake as natural fertiliser for organic farming.

Once it is implemented, it is believed that the chemical fertiliser requirement of the state per year will reduce to about 50 percent.

An added benefit would be that it will help in keeping Loktak Lake clean, the project director conveyed.

Devadutta then said that efforts are on for full implementation of organic farming in valley area.

However, the matter is being delayed as the valley area farmers, who are involved in large scale farming, could face inconveniences although it is temporary.

Organic products certified by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are renowned and recognised globally.

The organic products of Manipur will likely receive the USDA certification within one year, he conveyed.

In his speech, Chak-hao Poireiton Organic Farmers' Producer Company chairman Chongtham Shanta said that organic farming is not an easy job.

There is fear of the quality of the organic products being affected because of the rain water absorbed by the soil containing excess amount of chemical fertilisers or from the water flowing from such nearby fields onto the organic farmland.

Thus, organic farmers of the state are restless on whether their products could be denied from entering the global organic market due to this fear, he remarked.

Khelen Thokchom Trust ad-visor/trustee Irengbam Arun observed that journalists in Manipur, being located in a conflict zone, are habitually prone to focus on crime and political reporting.

However, there needs to be more reporting in other areas in addition to the development news of the state.

Renowned senior journalist (L) Khelen Thokchom was aware of this problem and as such, focused his attention on the same.

Thus, the Trust organised the workshop in accordance with the wishes of the late journalist, he conveyed.

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