This Indian state has gone 100% organic

The northeastern region of Sikkim accomplished a noteworthy milestone when it successfully educated and converted all the 66,000 farmers living there to sustainable agricultural practices.

Sikkim, a small Himalayan state in India, was certified organic in 2016. It was one of the first of its kind in South Asia to win an award from the Union of to examine the authentic benefits.

The unique human experience of Sikkim shows how “100 percent organic is no longer a pipe dream but a reality,” said Maria-Helena Semedo, deputy director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which co-organises the Future Policy Awards for exemplary policymaking efforts by countries.

Sikkim is located in northeastern India. It began working towards obtaining organic certification and environmental farming in 2003 and accomplished its goal in 2015. Sikkim was awarded Future Policy Award this year.

Sikkim saw that 100 percent of organic agriculture is possible when a community puts their efforts behind it. Sikkim was also a medium of growth in the northeast as it demonstrated that agriculture that is focused on ecological sustainability can improve rural education, community health, and local tourism. Sikkim saw its tourism boom by 50 percent from 2014 to 2017.

Wandel went on to urge other countries elsewhere to follow Sikkim’s lead and integrate organic farming practices.

“Sikkim sets an excellent example of how other countries worldwide can successfully upscale agroecology,” said Alexandra Wandel, director of the World Future Council.

The three winners received a prize in three separate categories. For the second prize, Brazil was rewarded for its policy of supporting local farmers, Denmark for being a proponent of organic food sales, and Ecuador for increasing its urban gardening.

Video by World Future Council

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