PATACHARKUCHI, Nov 18 - At a time when people have become aware about health hazards following extensive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in crops, progressive farmers of Bajali subdivision are working silently on organic farming and getting good results.
Mahendra Das, group leader of Arohan Organic Group � one of seven such groups formed in Bajali under the Sikkim State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Ltd (SIMFED) � is cultivating black rice and joha rice using organic fertilizers.
SIMFED was established in 1983 under the Sikkim Cooperative Societies Act of 1978 and the Sikkim Cooperative Societies Rules of 1981. It was established as a marketing society for Sikkim with the main intension of undertaking wholesale supply of consumer goods to multipurpose cooperative societies and consumer cooperative societies and to arrange for bulk marketing of the surplus agricultural produce, including the important cash crops of the state.
Under the initiative of Jonali Rajbangshi, assistant project officer of SIMFED, many farmers have come forward for organic farming. Altogether, 34 farmers are cultivating 4-5 bighas of land using organic techniques.
Group leader Mahendra Das has cultivated black rice in 12 bighas and Joha rice (also known locally as Konkani joha) in 10 bighas, which has yielded good results. Das said that he along with other farmers use only green manure like cow dung and vermicompost instead of chemical fertilizers.
The black rice seeds and Joha seeds were collected by the progressive farmers with the help of SIMFED. Black rice is now becoming quite popular as it is known for its taste and medicinal value.
Das said he was expecting very good results in his venture and was planning to cultivate more land with the traditional variety of rice and other crops.
Daisingri organic group, Sonali organic group of Raipur, Bandhasidhani part-1 and part-2, Udayan organic group of Barminkpur, Lakhimi organic group of Garemari and Arohan organic group of Niz Sathisamuka are also involved in organic farming in the subdivision.
A total of 254 farmers are involved in organic farming, said Jonali Rajbangshi. She appealed to interested farmers to come forward, and informed that Pawan Awasthy, managing director of SIMFED, was willing to provide support to all farmers to market their organic products.
