Organic farming in Manipur

Parikshit Thoudam *

The winter vegetables at Toubul village area under Bishnupur District in January 2016 :: Pix - Deepak Oinam

Organic farming is a form of agriculture in which we have minimal or no dependence on chemical fertilisers and pesticides to enhance crop yield. It envisages the use of organic manure, compost and other by-products of livestock farms (animal waste) to replenish the soil of its lost nutrients.

The question which one might ask is why do we even care? All that we care about is increasing yield. Well, we must ponder on this question because this method of crop production has multifarious benefits.

First and foremostly, it is sustainable. It maintains the soil health and conserves the soil microbiota (collection of the microorganisms residing in the soil).

Don't go by their size because we now have much evidence suggesting that these minuscule organisms play a significant role in modulating the growth of plants.

Use of chemicals can have debilitating effects on the interactions between the plant and the microbes. Organic farming products are considered healthier and more nutritious.

Also, use of fertilisers can be detrimental to the entire ecosystem as it wreaks havoc in the food chain by causing bio-magnification (accumulation of toxic waste in a trophic level).

The farmers are also on a safer side as they don't need to handle or come in contact with these harmful chemicals.

We all know about the infamous endosulfan, a once upon a time widely used insecticide has caused deleterious effects to the farmer and have even perpetuated for generations.

In our state of Manipur, we are predominantly an agrarian economy much like our country and we have a very little contribution from the manufacturing and services sectors. As per the 2011 census, of the 11,59,053 working persons, 23% and 26.1% in the valley and hills respectively were agricultural workers.

This also serves as the primary resource provider for the limited agro-based industry in the state. It is, therefore, imperative that we work towards ensuring the development of this sector so as to improve our state income and uplift many out of poverty.

Fortunately, we already have a role model in sight. On 18th Jan 2016, our honourable PM inaugurated the Sikkim Organic Festival and also declared the state of Sikkim as the 1st organic state of the country.

The road to this gargantuan feat of the state began in 2003 with the formulation of "Going for Organic Farming in Sikkim" – A Concept Paper and Action Plan.

The primary objective was to promulgate Sikkim as an organic state. It worked out plans for the gradual substitution of fertilisers and pesticides with organic manure and bio-pesticides, scrapped subsidy on chemicals to reduce its usage, develop markets for organic products thereby ensuring consumers for their produce and resource mobilisation such as the construction of rural compost units, vermicomposting pits, upgrading of soil testing labs, etc.

It also marked the guidelines for the constitution of a State Organic Board to address basic requirements of the farmers, serve as an accreditation authority and setting standards for certification. The Sikkim government also developed two "Centre of Excellence for Organic Farming" in the state.

It has also left no stones unturned in ensuring skill development and providing training sessions for practising organic farming, making way for an organic regime in the state which is sustainable, profitable and environmentally acceptable.

At this point let us ask ourselves a question, why can't our state make similar strides? What is it that is keeping us behind others? Our state has enormous potential in this sector.

The Sikkim model can be our Rosetta stone for implementing organic farming in our state. We can make use of the Start Up India programme by creating start-up based on organic farming and allied agro-based industries.

We can also create many Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in this sector which can be integrated into a food processing industry(s).

We can also generate revenue by serving as a nodal centre for tourism and trade which is underpinned by the Act East Policy of the Indian Government. Manipur then can jubilantly serve as the India's Gateway to the East with the completion of the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway.

These steps can alleviate many out of poverty by providing employment and make our state economically resilient by increasing our state income.

All is not in despair in the state. Consortiums like the Manipur Small Farmers Agri-business Consortium and the Regional Bio fertilisers Development Centre has been promoting organic farming in the state.

We must, however, remind ourselves that Rome was not built in a day and this matter at hand is no exception. As in the words of Benjamin Franklin "By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail".

The sooner we embark on this journey the sooner we will reach the summit. With pragmatic steps of the state government and the participation of the citizens of Manipur, this will provide the much required impetus towards making our State truly organic!