ORGANIC CERTIFICATION IN SIKKIM

Agriculture & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Government of India is the Nodal agency for Organic Certification in India. The Organic Certification can only done by APEDA accredited Certification Agency. In the 1^st phase, initial ICS development and certification was taken up in 18,000 hectares, after calling nationwide tender. For 1^st phase three agencies accredited with APEDA were selected namely Onecert Asia, IMO Control and LACON Quality Certifications and given the work of certification. In the 2^nd phase 20,000 hectares was given for the certification, another two agencies namely ECOCERT and SGS accredited by APEDA were selected besides above three agencies already working in Sikkim. All these are reputed certifying agencies and credentials of these agencies can be seen in the website of APEDA.

As far as the vegetable production is concerned it is well known fact that the production of onion and potato is less in Sikkim and climatically cole crops like cabbage, cauliflower, tomato and peas are grown in Sikkim. Vegetable development in Sikkim can be seen in clusters like Chuba-Perbing, Okharay, Ribdi, Mellidara, Sadam, Simkharka, Raigaon, Kadamtam, Pakjor, Sajong Rumtek etc. Such dispirited reporting is also neglecting the efforts of Sikkim vegetable growers.

As far as the export is concerned, Sikkim Marketing Federation (SIMFED) has exported 6 MT ginger to Germany, 15 MT of organic ginger to Kerala and 961 bottle of seabuckthorn juice to Germany. One of the service providers namely International Panacea Limited also procured 60 MT of in-conversion ginger locally and sold in domestic market in Delhi. When the price of ginger was only 10/- per kg in market, International Panacea Limited procured organic ginger from farmers for 20/- per kg by giving price premium on organically grown ginger. The Government is also making all efforts for creation of post harvest infrastructures and marketing outlets for marketing support. Sikkim is getting all round appreciation from all over India in the field of organic agriculture. Several states of India have written to Sikkim to give its expertise to implement organic agriculture programme.