The move will mandate the prohibition of non-organic agricultural and horticultural and livestock products entering the state.
Besides being the first and only 100 percent organic state in India, Sikkim will now also have the credit of entirely banning the supply of non-organic agriculture, horticulture and livestock produce.
The proposal, which was raised by Department of Horticulture and Cash Crops, found approval during a recent cabinet meeting presided by Pawan Kumar Chamling, the Chief Minister of Sikkim, and will be implemented from March 31, 2018, in a phased manner, reports PTI.
As per an official release, a notification that will direct suppliers upon necessary actions to be taken for compliance with the cabinet decision will be issued shortly.
This will mandate the prohibition of non-organic agricultural and horticultural and livestock products entering the state.
The non-organic processed products which will be barred entry include— maize, beans, brinjal, bitter gourd, bottle gourd, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, capsicum, carrot, chayote, cucumber, drumstick, lady’s finger, leafy vegetables, spinach, pea, radish, tomato, pointed gourd, banana, guava, mango, orange, papaya, ginger, green chilly and turmeric.
Products like millet/finger millet, soyabean, rapeseed, mustard, onion, potato, garlic, milk & packaged milk and mustard oil cake, will face the same consequence from March 31, 2019.
You may also like: How Sikkim Beat Himalayan Odds to Become India’s First Organic State
This will be a significant move for Sikkim, as most of domestic consumption supply like that of cereals, vegetables, pulses, poultry products and fruits is heavily dependent on markets in neighbouring states like West Bengal.
Publically advocating against produce that is not grown organically, the CM had announced that his government would ban the supply of fruits like banana and mango from outside from next year on Wednesday. He had also mentioned that consumption of these produces is hazardous to health as these are ripened with use of chemicals.
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