Timothy Das Hanse, Horti Director converses with Monalisa Borkakoty about Assam's preparedness for organic farming

1. NER: Going organic
Monalisa Borkakoty from Guwahati, Assam

2. Meet Monalisa Borkakoty.
A Post-Graduate.
Based out of Guwahati, Mona – well,
that’s how this Assamese professional
prefers to be called - is an intelligent,
bright hard worker and deadline
conscious journalist. She has dablbed in
print, television and web across India.
In fact, we had worked together almost a
decade ago in a niche B2B segment.
After a long gap, she teams with
LOGISTICS North East to fetch the local
flavour from the region hitherto much
neglected.
Yes, the flavour will be focused on all
aspects of logistics: highways, transport,
warehouses, cold supply chain, what
not.
Well, here’s her maiden dispatch…

3. North Eastern Region (NER) has significant scope of organic farming
because of several favourable factors such as good rainfall, abundant
natural resources, favourable agro-ecological zones, rich water
resources and traditional belief of the indigenous people here with
rich ethnicity and social set up.

4. With Organic farming catching up in world market, the
consciousness of health aspect taking forefront in today’s scenario –
the new Government’s keenness to convert NE to organic states is
definitely a welcome move. With proper planning and right strategies
applied on time, NER can be the most significant area of organic
farming and can be a global player for organic food.

5. Says Timothy Das Hanse,
Director of Horticulture and
Food Processing (Govt of
Assam) :
“NER region is by default
organic. The farmers’ age old
perception remains
unchallenged despite modern
technological advancements.
The farmers still practice
tradition way of farming,
except for few district &
pockets. There is tremendous
scope for organic farming in
this part of the country,
because of several reasons
like good cultivation land,
abundant rainfall offering an
opportunity, practice of
traditional farming , the hilly
terrain preventing the
application of inorganic
inputs. “

6. “Hilly Karbi-Anlong/Dima Hasao districts are almost 99 % organic
zone. NER absolutely can be the most significant hub for organic
farming and can be a global player –thus improving condition of . The
South East Asian countries can be good market for the organic food
produced. It may so happen that organic food produced might get
sold much before produce of the other mainland states with proper
initiatives and markets / super markets of neighbouring countries
being tapped.”

7. Best Suited
Arunal Pradesh
Kiwi, Orange, Large Cardamom
Assam
Turmeric, ginger, pineapple, chilli, tea
Manipur
Passion fruit, paddy
Meghalaya
Ginger, mandarin, cashew
Mizoram
Passion fruit, turmeric
Nagaland
Khollar, maize, pineapple, chilli,
pineapple, passion fruit, ginger,
turmeric, large cardamom, & some
medicinal plants
Tripura
Pineapple

8. What To Do
Continuous initiatives to be
taken to popularize and make
awareness about the benefits
of Organic farming system.
The government should
provide support to the growers
in the initial years to
encourage organic farming &
also train the farmers
intensively .
Going for site and crop
specific strategies initially.
Encouraging small cultivators
and self help groups to take up
organic farming.
Setting up a strong
marketing cell to reach out to
bigger markets

9. Adds Dr Banshi Kalita ,
Addition Director Agriculture
/Organic side:
“The change has already
started . The government
and Department have
already started taking
initiatives on promoting
Organic farming in large
scale.
Out of 126 Assembly
constituencies, 50 acre land
per farm model has been
designed already. In Phase
(2012-13) activity is on in 30
such model farm. In phase 2
(2013-2014 ) work has been
initiated in 60 such farms to
disseminate organic message
and technology amongst the
people.

10. Organic farming or the organic crop production is not a new concept
to the NER farmers. The psychological and traditional temperament
of people here is a big factor that boosts Organic farming. Rich
biodiversity is also another factor that makes organic production
much easier here.
“No cow No Organic”.
Organic farming is a system of production that relies on animal
manures. The presence of indigenous cow here makes it convenient
to farmers and producers to practice organic farming.

11. Nagaland/ Arunachal
Pradesh / Mizoram
would not take much
time because these
states already
practices organic
farming to a very large
extent .
In Assam, barring few
district , organic
production is
practiced.
The government
certification is
achieved in three
years time. Depending
upon policy of
government and the
department and with
proper measures and
feasibility test reports
in three years time a
lot more can be
achieved in this
regard.

12. Nevertheless, since the need for food produce has gone up with increased consumer demand
and land being limited, in some areas the farmers rely on chemicals and go for inorganic
farming. To bring back these people they should be further educated and most importantly
given better option and markets for their livelihood. With world market opening up and NER
being promoted as Organic hub – bringing back these cultivators and encouraging new ones
would definitely not be hard., adds Dr Kalia.