Sikkim Becomes The First 100% Organic State In The World; Wins Future Policy Award 2018
The “Oscar for best policies” was conferred by the Food and Agriculture Organisation by beating 51 other nominees from around 25 countries, the Press Trust Of India reported. Sikkim is not only the country's first 100 per cent organic state but also the cleanest state.
Sikkim, the first in the world got the Future Policy Award 2018 for bolstering efforts to attain Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Himalayan state of India was conferred with this honour during the World Food Week at headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome, Italy.
The award function every year recognises efforts in different social issues categories like desertification, violence against women and girls, nuclear weapons and pollution of the oceans.
This year’s awards were directed at thwarting chemical use, using crop residues as compost, afforestation and crop rotation to improve the soil quality and protection against pests. Here are some of the policies that Sikkim adopted to bag the golden award:
1) In 2003, Sikkim became India’s first state to officially announce the adoption of organic farming. Organic farming not only ensures long-term sustenance of soil fertility but also the protection of environment and ecology. It also promotes healthy living.
2) Maria-Helena Semedo, Deputy Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), said that Sikkim's experience shows that "100 per cent organic is no longer a pipe dream but a reality," as quoted by Thomson Reuters Foundation, Rome.