Meghalaya, one of the North Eastern states is no stranger to Organic farming. But with the spotlight now on the NE region as an organic hub, what initiatives is the state taking to ensure optimal returns? In an exclusive interview with The Organic Magazine, Canning S Shabong, Assistant Director of Agriculture (Info & IT), Directorate of Agriculture, Meghalaya talks about Meghalaya’s organic agriculture initiatives and the scope for AI and IoT in the farming sector.
Your insights on the organic farming sector in Meghalaya?
Since time immemorial, farming in Meghalaya is Organic by “tradition” and has been practised by our farmers and the farming community for ages. Our forefathers practised a form of shifting cultivation or slash and burn agriculture which is commonly called Jhum cultivation or Rep Shyrti (in Khasi) and A.ba oa (in Garo). This is one of the most ancient systems of farming believed to have originated in the Neolithic period around 7000 B C.
The Department of Agriculture, Meghalaya initiated pilots during 2010 which began with Tea and thereafter Cauliflower in Ri-Bhoi and East Khasi Hills district. “MEG” Tea is presently NPOP certified and marketed as “MEG” Organic Certified Tea and is available in three varieties – Green, Oolong and Black Tea. All the organic tea varieties are both USDA and NPOP certified by Control Union India.
Further, about 6000 hectares of area in the State has been covered under MOVCD for NER Phase 1 and 8000 hectare under Phase 2 where 12 FPCs have been formed in 4 districts for major crops like Ginger, Turmeric, Banana, Pineapple, Orange, Black Pepper, Cashewnut and Paddy (Glutinous).
What is the potential for the other North Eastern States especially Meghalaya in emulating Sikkim’s organic model?
North East is geographically diverse and no two States are alike in terms of agro climatic or agro ecological zones. Each State is unique in its agricultural strengths and practices. A model which works for one State may not fit another State. The North East is very pluralistic in terms of culture, topography, crop diversity, soils, climate etc.
However, the potential of each State for producing safe and nutritious agri and horticulture produce/crops is immense and there is no two views about that. The Sikkim organic model is unique to its geographical, cultural and social context and therefore cannot be replicated in toto to other North Eastern States. However, having said that, each State will have to adopt its own organic strategy and policy measures, according to a best fit approach, based on their core agricultural strengths, economic and livelihood advantages, policies and competencies.
As Meghalaya has distinct agro ecological zones and regions, each zone will require a selective approach based on the ground situation vis -a-vis the economic returns from organic practice. For example, Lakadong Turmeric from West Jaintia Hills has been targeted for upscaling through a mission mode approach due to its distinctiveness.
So the State’s approach is not based on a big bang approach but based on incremental steps that is both economically sustainable as well as strategic. A case in point is that it would not be profitable or strategic to convert all the paddy growing areas in the State to organic. The cost would far outweigh the returns and may not serve the State’s objective of food security. Organic agriculture should be viewed from multiple prisms and approaches based on costs and benefits. The goal has to ensure both optimal returns in terms of economic costs and health benefits.
What is the state government’s role in organic farming sector and what more needs to be done?
In Meghalaya, the Directorate of Horticulture initiated pilots on organic tea cultivation during 2009-10 in the department’s owned tea gardens under NPOP. The pilots subsequently rolled out to private owned gardens and 2-3 private tea organic factories have started production and marketing.
On January 2015, the State Government launched a mission organic program with the aim to convert about 40,000 hectares of land to organic status in 5 years. The State Government decided to phase out subsidy support to all usage of chemical fertilisers, chemical pesticides and replaced them with bio pesticides, biologicals, bio fertilisers and other green manuring and composting systems like 18 days compost, vermicompost, etc.
At present the Department of Agriculture is implementing the central schemes for establishing FPCs for PGS certification under Phase 2 of the central scheme MOVCD for NER for the year 2020-21. The organic road map is a long and winding journey but the progress has been slow with limited success.
In my view, the State needs to focus on setting up Model Organic Farms at crops clusters to serve as demonstration and capacity building facilities and delineate distinct zones and model organic villages. However, the most important link in this chain are the physical organic markets, retail outlets and forward linkages to push and promote organised marketing, branding value addition and processing.
Using technology like ICT (Information Communication Technology) in organic farming?
Adoption and usage of ICT tools and platforms brings more efficiency, transparency and better management over the sector. Today, organic agriculture requires capturing of various data points at each stage right from production to marketing to retail. Therefore, in the post Covid-19 world where emergence of new generation technologies and agritech is happening, ICT provides a definitive edge in order to provide high quality and healthy products to consumers.
The scope for AI and IoT in Meghalaya’s farming sector? Comments on digital agriculture?
AI is one of the most trending technologies today even in the agriculture space. We have tried AI way back in 2010 with CDAC Mumbai in implementing an advisory service for pest and disease advisory to farmers. The pilot was a very successful one in which the system could generate automated solutions to farmers based on the nature of the query.
AI will be very useful in automating repetitive types of queries and also attend to farmers problem solving. We are currently implementing a Chatbot using NIC VANI framework for providing automated response to citizens queries on schemes of the department. In terms of IOT we have not done any project but I am sure that IOT and IOT sensors will play a major role in the days to come in the sector.
Using satellite imagery and GPS tools in organic farming in India? Do you think small holder/marginalised farmers in our country can afford it? Can it made affordable?
The costs of satellite data is fast becoming affordable and even Google data and free Q-GIS application software are now being used by many organisations and individuals for planning and decision support. The challenge is how to make these services available to farmers on the ground.
We are experimenting with various mobile Apps and planning to make the datasets and results available in the app, so that farmers can get the processed output and best fit recommendations based on their geo co-ordinates or within a 10 hectare grid based on the exact grid number (For non-land record state, the best option is to divide the whole State into such grids with unique grid numbering)
Tell us about the Farmer ID tags introduced recently? How will it benefit the farmers?
First, the farmer ID Card is a complete end to end service where a farmer approaches the nearest CSC/ Rainbow Centre in his village and applies for it. If he/she submits land document proof and is eligible under PM Kisan Norms, he/she will get PM Kisan Benefits as well as the Digitally Signed ID Card. If he does not upload land ownership document records, then he will be eligible for Farmer ID Card only.
The Farmer ID card captures farmers details like land ownership, crops grown, mobile number, bank details, gender, age, location, caste/tribe etc and ensures that the farmer is a bonafide farmer. This is ensured from field verification by the District Agriculture Officer and team. Only when the DAO is satisfied that the applicant is a bonafide and a practising farmer, then his/her application is approved and digitally signed. Thereafter, the farmer receives an SMS and he can get it downloaded and printed from the same CSC.
The ID card provides bonafide status to the farmer which will entitle him/her to the various schemes applicable or entitled from the department. This ID Card can also be verified regarding its authenticity by any financial institution online. The digital ID card can be used as a means of identification, entitlement, inclusion and ensures that no one should be left behind.
(The views given above are Mr Shabong’s personal views only and does not reflect the official view of the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare or the Government of Meghalaya)
