NEW DELHI, April 29 � The Centre may be promoting organic farming in the North East in a big way, but most of the Northeastern States including Assam do not have an organic farming policy.
This Budget, the Modi Government has sanctioned a big hike in allocation for organic farming in the North East, sanctioning Rs 125 crore, marking a nearly 200 per cent hike from the Rs 33 crore allocated in the last year�s budget. Furthermore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that the North East has the potential of becoming the organic capital of the country.
However, DoNER Minister Dr Jitendra Singh has clarified that pending finalisation of scheme to enable implementation, no funds have been allocated to the States under the scheme.
Minister DoNER has further clarified that the North Eastern Council has not urged the member States to promote organic farming. According to replies furnished by Dr Singh most of the Northeastern States have not drafted an organic farming policy.
In reply to a question by Rameswar Teli, the Union Minister said Assam Government has not drafted a policy on organic farming. But organic farming is being promoted under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) covering 4,500 hectares of crop land with third party certification programme.
Government of Assam has submitted a project proposal amounting to Rs 9.6 crore under Mission Organic Farming � North East, Dr Singh said.
