Mangan, April 11, 2012

An Awareness Programme for initiation of Internal Control System for Organic Farming in three GPUs of Kabi Tingda Area was conducted by SIMFED under the programme & guidance of Sikkim Organic Mission, Govt of Sikkim in the Conference Hall of Block Administrative Centre of Kabi Tingda, North Sikkim on the 28th of March 2012.

The Programme was attended by the Kabi Tingda Block Development Officer, Prem Kamal Rai, Deputy Director (NRM), Agriculture Dept. Dupchen Bhutia, Horticulture Development Officer- Shanker Bhutia, Agriculture Inspector- T. N. Bhutia along with the Respected Panchayats Presidents of three GPUs, Panchayats Secretaries, Panchayat Members along with 70 progressive farmers of the area.

In the first phase, the participants were introduced to the concept of Organic farming- its history and conceptualization along with the reasons for the birth of this idea of Organic farming in the world and specifically in Sikkim. In between the programme the a very descriptive Documentary film of about thirty minutes on the ill effects of the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides/insecticides was shown to the participants.

In the second phase, they were introduced with the Certifications process and the needs for Organic Certification were also explained in depth. Necessary explanations were given as to why certificate is needed. The Certificates were a authenticated proof that the products being sold in the market were produced organically. The gatherings were shown the Original Scope Certificates of other ICS Areas of Rateypani, South Sikkim and West Pendam, East Sikkim under Simfed which were obtained after completion of required process and entries in APEDA Tracenet site that would be viewed by the rest of the world whenever required & needed. Details of Organic products and their marketing procedures were also explained. The gathering was also introduced to Transaction Certificates and their compulsory requirement for marketing of Organic Products with recent example of 15MT of Organic Ginger purchased by SIMFED and marketed to a Kerala’s Buyer in February 2012. They were explained if valid Scope Certificate and Transaction Certificate is not there than its very difficult to claim that products is Organic to your buyers and specially to outsiders or foreign buyers. SIMFED has purchased the 15MT of Organic Ginger from the area of other service provider M/s Morarka Foundation and how M/s Morarka had provided the Transaction certificate to SIMFED that products purchased from them is Organic and after purchase how SIMFED has sold the products to the Kerala’s buyers and Transaction certificate was issued the Kerala’s Party that products purchased is really Organic Products were also explained to them with Original Transaction certificate copy shown to them.

The Internal Control System to be adopted in the area was explained in detail to all present. The help & support required from the BDO, Panchayats, Villagers and line departments were also sought by SIMFED to make this dream programme of Hon’ble Chief Minister to make Sikkim the first complete Organic certified state in India. They have been shown the Tracenet Entry & details of data entered in past for other ICS area to explain them about the necessary field & data required under the ICS programme & data entry in APEDA website, how & why the Parcha is needed, why the GPS data is needed and what are the necessary data required from them were also explained in details in a day long programme. Requisite explanations and clarifications were provided to questions related to various fields in Organic Farming, Internal Control System and Organic Certification and open discussion was held.

They have also told and asked about any issues related to marketing of Agricultural and Horticultural produce and issues pertaining to SIMFED for which they sincerely explained that there is no any issues with SIMFED at present.

Later Prem Kamal Rai, BDO-Kabi Tingda apprised the gathering that in order for the ICS to succeed in the area, cooperation of the farmers was the utmost which would ultimately result in the economic up liftment of the whole area. Dupchen Bhutia, Dy. Director (NRM), Shanker Bhutia, Horticlture Officer and Agriculture Inspector-T. N. Bhutia, in their respective speeches, cemented their Department’s assurance to assist the farmers in all possible ways. The Panchayat President of Kabi Tingda GPU explained that the programme was very informative and thank the SIMFED and Govt of Sikkim along with the concerned Area MLA for organizing this type of programme in the region.

At the end of the Programme Manager-ICS SIMED has gave Vote of Thanks in which he explained and gave sincere thanks to Chief Minister Pawan Chamling for introducing & concept of Sikkim Organic Mission way back in 2003 and for stopping the use of harmful chemicals in Agriculture fields. He sincerely thanks Hon’ble Minister Agriculture D.N. Thakarpa for his keen interest in Organic Mission and marketing of Organic Products, along with the Secretary Vishal Chauhan, IAS for his personnel initiative in Sikkim Organic Mission Programme.

 

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