Mizoram Organic Farming Act not yet ready

The State Agriculture Department's slackness in finalising the rules for organic farming has come in for severe criticism from the cultivators and those related to agriculture.

The State Agriculture Department's slackness in finalising the rules for organic farming has come in for severe criticism from the cultivators and those related to agriculture. Organic farming, which is envisaged as a domestic as well as export oriented scheme, is expected to earn much foreign money for the state.

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Joint Director Agriculture P Bhattacharjee said the Mizoram Organic Act could be of use only when the rules are framed, and did not deny the fact that the department had not yet given the rules for approval to the Government. The department is still in the process of giving shape to the rules and regulations of the Act.

He said that it was necessary to be cautious while structuring the Act, since different companies have different concepts in buying organic products. As soon as the Act is in place, the department will decide on areas and farmers and training will be imparted to the farmers on organic farming.

Meanwhile, Dr Saithantluanga, deputy director (planning) said that 2005-06 Mizoram budget has a provision Rs 11 lakhs for procuring bio-fertilizers, and Rs 3 lakh for maintenance of bio-chemical fertilizers unit at Neighbawih Sihphir.