12-12-2020 | 17:13 PM
Lakshadweep Declared as 1st Organic Union Territory
Context
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer’s welfare declared the Union Territory of Lakshadweep as an Organic Agricultural Area. The UT is 2nd after Sikkim to achieve the status of 100% organic region whereas it is the 1st Union Territories of India to achieve the status.
Key highlights
Under the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) of India, entire Lakshadweep group of islands has been declared as an organic agricultural area as all farming is carried out without the use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides.
After receiving certifications under the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) of India through Paramaparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, the UT’s proposal to declare it as organic was approved by the Centre.
Paramaparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) is the Centre’s Organic Farming Improvement Programme.
Organic Farming According to FSSAI, is a technique of farm design and management to create an ecosystem of agriculture production without the use of synthetic external inputs such as chemical fertilisers, pesticides and synthetic hormones or genetically modified organisms. By this, organic farming aims to minimize wastages and pollution. It involves biological methods.
Since 2005 Lakshadweep had not spent or earmarked any amount for procurement or distribution of synthetic chemicals.
It was instructed to all farmers and other stakeholders to only use organic fertilisers, including organic inputs and locally available organic waste.
According to the requirement of organic certification, no genetically modified organism is allowed to be used in the entire territory.
For making a formal announcement, the Union agriculture ministry has asked for a village-wise certification under PGS-India programme.
Participatory Guarantee System (PGS)
Participatory Guarantee System is a process of certifying organic products, which ensures that their production takes place in compliance with laid-down quality standards.
The certification is in the form of a documented logo or a statement. It is implemented by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
PGS is only for farmers or communities that can organise and perform as a group within a village or a cluster of contiguous villages.
It is only applicable to farm activities such as crop production, processing, and livestock rearing, and off-farm processing by PGS farmers of their direct products.
About Lakshadweep
Lakshadweep is India’s smallest Union Territory.
Lakshadweep is an archipelago consisting of 36 islands with an area of 32 sq kms.
There are three main group of islands and all islands are tiny islands of coral origin (Atoll) which are surrounded by fringing reefs
Amindivi Islands
Laccadive Islands
Minicoy Island.
The Capital of Lakshadweep is Kavaratti which is also the principal town of the UT.
