(Repeating with corrections throughout)

Shillong, Oct 30 (UNI) North Eastern Hill region is ideally suited for organic farming due to 'low consumption of chemical fertilisers' which is as low as 3 Kg per hectre in Arunachal Pradesh, ICAR scientists said here today.

Speaking at a seminar on 'Potential and Prospects of Organic Farming in North East India,' Deputy Director General (NRM) of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Dr J S Sarma said, ''More than 65 per cent of the geographical areas are under thick forests with nutrients, water, soluble organic matter and other fluxes to supplement crop production organically.'' ''Earlier, Green Revolution pioneer M S Swaminathan, who headed the task force, recommended organic farming in areas where fertilizers are least used. The North Eastern states fall into such a category where use of fertilizers is minimum,'' Dr Sarma said.

''The high rainfall, sunshine, ethnicity and social capital are also conducive for organic farming,'' he said.

Director ICAR for North Eastern Region Dr K M Bujarbaruah said, ''There will be a lot of difficulties if organic agriculture is started throughout the country.'' Meghalaya Minister in charge Agriculture Manirul Islam Sarkar stressed the need for a complete technological package, awareness building among the producers and processors as well as a road map to work for achieving the targeted changes in food production process by organic means.

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