On 18 January 2016 Sikkim was declared as the first organic farming state of India. The declaration was made by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi while inaugurating the Sikkim Organic Festival 2016 in Gangtok,Sikkim. The Prime Minister also handed over the Organic Certificate to Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling.
The Sikkim Organic Festival 2016 was held on the sidelines of the 2-day long National Conference on Sustainable Agriculture and Farmers Welfare that began on 17 January 2016. The conference was attended by agricultural scientists, State Agriculture Ministers, Agriculture Production Commissioners and Agriculture Secretaries among others.
Some new initiatives such as issue of Soil Health Cards to all farmers in all 14 crore farm holdings regularly in a cycle of 2 years, introduction of the Neem Coated Urea scheme, implementation of theParamparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana for promoting organic farming in the country, efficiency and implementation of the National Agriculture Market for setting up of a common e-market platform, have been introduced for the long term benefit of the farmers.
