GUWAHATI, Jan 6 � In a welcome development for the State�s agriculture, 30 organic farms set up under the Chief Minister�s Organic Farming Project - an ambitious scheme aimed at promoting large-scale organic farming - are set to receive the first-phase �In-conversion Certificate to Organic� during 2013-14.
The 30 organic farms were set up in the initial phase during 2012-13 in 30 Assembly constituencies, covering an area of 50 hectares each. Later, the project, which is being implemented by the Agriculture Department, was extended to cover another 60 constituencies. The rest 36 constituencies would be covered during 2014-15.
Departmental sources told The Assam Tribune that two reputed organizations were engaged in examining all the required aspects concerning certification of the organic products as mandated by strict international standards of quality control.
�The 30 firms set up during the first phase have made good progress, and we expect them to receive the �In-conversion Certificate to Organic� during 2013-14. This will be a big boost to the organic initiative which is being gradually extended to all the 126 Assembly constituencies,� the sources said.
The Agriculture Department is also planning to set up ten organic sales counters in different districts under the ongoing project for facilitating sale of organic products. The sales counters are to be set up in public-private partnership (PPP), for which an amount of Rs 1.5 lakh each has been earmarked.
�We are for ensuring the highest quality in our organic yield conforming to global standards so that the State can capture the international organic market. Assam has conducive geo-physical and climatic conditions for organic farming, which needs to be tapped,� sources added.
The organic farms cover an area of 50 hectares each, and they would extend to an overall coverage 6,300 hectares in during the final phase. Rabi and Kharif vegetables, ginger, turmeric, scented rice and sugarcane are the thrust crops under the project. Bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides, vermin-compost green manure seeds, vermin-compost production units and planting materials have also been distributed to farmers for the purpose.
