Dorjay demands Leh as Organic Certified District

LEH, APRIL 6: Minister for Cooperative & Ladakh Affairs Chering Dorjay today asked concerned to take concrete steps to implement the decisions taken by Hill Council to make Leh an organic certified district.

The Minister said this during a meeting held with Chennai based multinational company Murugappa Group here.

Addressing the meeting, the Minister said that the purpose of the meeting is to look for viable option to bring in organic farming in district Leh. He said the aim could be achieved by working in partnership with reputed multinational company like Murugappa Group.

He further said in order to implement the policy decision of Council to make the district 100 percent organic, the department approached the company to find out reliable and sustainable solution to organic farming as well as to mitigate the problem of increasing pest issue in the district.

The Minister also said that Government is keen to provide people pesticide free food and increase their production through organic mode farming.

He said that there is no confusion over making Ladakh fully organic region. However, the need is to find out ways to do it, and roping in Murugappa Group is the step in the direction, he added.

The Minister clarified that the final decision has to come from all the stakeholders including concerned departments, experts, scientists and representatives from farming community.

Earlier, AGM Product Development, Muruppa Group, Mr. Santosh Kumar Jha also gave a power point presentation to give an overview of organic bio-products. He said that their company is committed to provide safe and sustainable agricultural practices by putting together ancient system and science and technology.

He said that they have done rigorous study on Ladakh over the past three months and have also visited some of the villages, interacted with villagers and collected fruit samples in Leh for case study.

Mr. Jha suggested for not abruptly stopping use of chemical fertilizers. He said farmers should try their products made from neem seeds and gradually reduce the quantity of chemical fertilizers.

Leh Chief Executive Councilor (CEC) LAHDC, Dr. Sonam Dawa, all the ECs, Councilors, DC, Leh Prasanna Ramaswamy, HODs of Agriculture and concerned departments, representatives from different science institutes like DIHAR, SKUAST, CAZRI, NGOs and progressive farmers were also present in the meeting.

CEC, Dr. Sonam Dawa endorsing the initiative taken by the Minister said that it is important to take advantage of such opportunities in a phase manner.