Agriculture policy on organic cultivation for Arunachal

Itanagar, Feb 3 (UNI) Realising the ill-effects of inorganic fertilisers, including pesticides, the Arunachal Pradesh government has decided to introduce an agriculture policy on organic cultivation and to declare the state as ''organic.'' As per the new policy, scopes would be created so that farmers could avail themselves of all benefits to develop their economic condition, informed state Water Resources Minister Tako Dabi here today.

''The new policy would be in addition to the existing one on agriculture framed a few years back,'' he said and added that secretary agriculture would be the nodal officer in this regard.

Chief Minister Gegong Apang had earlier expressed concern over the use of inorganic fertilizers, which had many side effects and during the lst State Hood Day speech had declared Arunachal as an organic state.

''The state cabinet has also decided to constitute a task force under the chairmanship of Mr. Apang to look after the new policy'', the minister informed.

Replying to a query, whether the government would ban inorganic fertilizers in the state, he said such a decision would affect many farmers in the state. He, however, said that awareness would be created among the farmers on the advantages of organic fertilizers.

He said, through use of organic fertilizers, the fertility of the soil would remain intact and the cost of production would be minimized. Moreover, the organic produces would fetch more income to the farmers, he added.

''Use of inorganic fertilizers has many disadvantages including rise of soil toxicity, high yielding cost, environmental pollution, residual effect in crops besides effecting beneficial organism'', he said.

Arunachal Pradesh blessed with nature's gift was an ideal place for organic crop, he pointed out adding the agriculture department had already set up adequate centers for manufacturing vermicompose (organic fertilizer), seven Krishi Vigyan kendras, one bio-control laboratory at Naharlagun, one soil testing laboratory at Pasighat with another coming up at Tezu.

UNI