Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Aug 6: A conference on Organic Farming in Ladakh was organized by LAHDC, Leh, in collaboration with Ladakh Environment and Health Organisation, here today.
On the occasion, a Leh declaration on Biodiverse, Organic and Climate Resilient Himalaya to meet SDGs was signed by LAHDC, Leh, Government of Sikkim, Navdanya and LEHO.
Minister for Agriculture, Govt of Sikkim, Somnath Poudyal, was chief guest on the occasion. CEC LAHDC Dorjey Mutup, Executive Councilors, Secretary to Agri/Horti Govt of Sikkim Khorlo Bhutia, president Navdanya Dr Vandana Shiva, Director Navdanya, Councilors, ADC Leh Moses Kunzang, Chief Agriculture Officer Tashi Tsetan, other district officers, president LEHO Dr Mohd Deen, heads of various NGOs, social organizations and farmers from different villages were all present in the meeting.
Somnath Poudyal invited a team comprising members of Council, Government officials and farmers to Sikkim for an exposure tour to learn about ground works in organic farming. He also assured to send a certificate agency to Leh to provide certification courses. He suggested Council to promote organic tourism and assured full support of Sikkim Government in whatever way possible in transforming the Leh into an organic district.
CEC hoped that with the support of Sikkim Government and maturation of this program, Leh will be able to revive its statue of self sustainability based on agriculture.
EC Agriculture Tsering Wangdus stressed on the need to think for sustainable development for future by ensuring land based economy. He said that Ladakh can learn from Sikkim and replicate their model of being an organic state to make Leh an organic district.
Dr Vandana Shiva stressed on synergy, convergence and solidarity to promote organic farming and the need to shift focus from globalization to localization. She urged Council to form a bio diversity board and suggested to undertake a project with DRDO to measure the nutritional value of wild and improved Seabuckthorn in Leh.
Khorlo Bhutia gave a power point presentation on Sikkim’s organic journey suggested LAHDC, Leh, to start with the certification process for local produces like barley, bug wheat, rajma, apple and apricot.
CAO, Tashi Tsetan also gave a power point presentation on current agriculture scenario in the district.
Dr Mohd Deen spoke on the role of NGOs in organic farming.
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