International organic conference in Thimphu underway
In solidarity to Bhutan’s commitment for 100 percent organic agricultural production, arganic farming advocates are currently discussing the movement for organic farming in Bhutan. Over 100 participants, including 44 Bhutanese, from 30 countries are in Thimphu to strengthen and consolidate international steps towards “Organic Himalaya”, as initiated by Bhutan.
The conference is being jointly organised by the National Organic Programme (NOP), Department of Agriculture (DoA) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests (MoAF), Royal Government of Bhutan; Navdanya (India), Millennium Institute; and the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM).
The four days conference, that begun on Wednesday, at Taj Tashi Hotel in Thimphu comprise of participants from diverse backgrounds such as farmers, agriculturist, scientists, academicians, private sector, development partners, donors, government officials, NGOs, planners and teachers.
Minister for Agriculture and Forests Yeshey Dorji, while inaugurating the conference, said that it is an important event not only for Bhutan, but for all the mountainous regions as we all share the same common issues in farming, development, social and cultural whether we are in the Himalayas, highlands of the Americas, Africa, Europe or Asia.
He said “Our traditions and cultures and socioeconomic challenges have preserved most of our pristine environments till today, let us work together to take this further by taking stock of what we have and what we can do to spread the need to make our mountain systems organic.” He also added that it was our common concern for the mountain ecosystems which are so fragile and sensitive, yet it feeds millions of us and has done so for thousands of years.
He further added Bhutan desires to become a organic nation without hampering the productivity and cause of economic loss to the farmers.
The UN (UNEP: Green Economy Report 2011; UNCTAD: The ecological Bases of Food Security, 2013) has confirmed that organic agriculture based on the principles of agro-ecology is the most effective way to nurture the planet and nourish people. Rio+20 also recognised the contribution of ecological farming and organic agriculture to food and ecological security.
In the Himalayas, India, Nepal, Bhutan and China have developed their organic agriculture sectors with a focus on mountain regions and many Indian states in the Himalayan region, such as Sikkim and Uttarakhand, have already made commitments to 100% organic. These include Uttarakhand and Sikkim.