RAIPUR, 06 December 2016 : nderstanding the importance of organic farming, Chhattisgarh Government is planning to Organic Supermarket in Bastar region.
The state government has already started working on making Dantewada, Bijapur, Sukma and Gariaband as ‘complete organic farming districts'.
These areas are developed under the ‘Organic Farming Mission Scheme’
Apart from this, the government also operates several social welfare schemes through the medium of Co-Operatives.
The institutions provide short-term and long-term loans, fertilizers, high-breed seeds and farm equipment, Public Distribution System, housing, fisheries, dairy, forest produce, weavers, mining and horticulture activities are operated, they informed.
As being a very poor region and a naxalite affected area, the state government wants to bring the region under the organic farming, so that people from this region can reap the benefits of development.
In the state, 80 per cent of the population is engaged in agriculture and agriculture-related activities for livelihood.
After formation of new state, Chhattisgarh Government formulated effective strategy to make agriculture a profitable occupation and bring prosperity to the lives of farmers and agro-labourers.
As a result of State Government's agriculture development schemes and programmes, agriculture development rate in Chhattisgarh has exceeded the national average. Many schemes have been implemented to bring down the input cost of agriculture.
In year 2013-14, Chhattisgarh introduced separate agriculture budget for the first time.
To save the fertility of soil, organic farming has emerged as the need of the time, officials stated.
State agriculture minister, Brijmohan Agrawal had issued directives to officials for chalking out a detailed action plan for making Dantewada an 'Organic Farming District' in Bastar during the month of May this year.
He had stated that at first, action plan for first three years should be made and also stated that just like Sikkim, Dantewada will also be converted into an 'Organic District'.
In Sikkim, not only the way of farming is organic but also the works related to animal husbandry and fishery is done in organic manner. Dantewada also has great scope for organic farming, he stressed.
It requires training of the farmers here at first and then development of market for the products made.
Agrawal had stated that there are certain organizations that are working for training farmers in organic farming and marketing their products at a good price. These organizations may help in implementation of the action plan.
Besides organic farming, promotion of fruit and vegetable cultivation is also necessary and Horticulture has important part to play in promoting this kind of cultivation.
