Northeast India as an Organic Hub to provide Good Food to humanity and will play a vital role in strengthening Nation's economy. My reasons to justify it.
- · Organic is a word that connects to the heart and nature. It is to be led by people who wants to feed the humanity with good food from their heart and soul. Northeast is a hub of different ethnic communities and very simple and hospitable people naturally producing food till date and by default organic in most parts of the region. This big hearted Human resource in the hills and plains of the Northeast region makes it a hub for Organic Farming. We have countable commercial farmers since the Green Revolution and maximum of our farmers are more dependent on Nature in farming which has now become the boon in disguise and strength of the region to lead the Organic movement.
- · North east is the most greenest part of the Country and most of our farmers are Green-fingured gardeners. This is possible because Nature boons us with enormous natural resources which can be sustainably reused and recycled to grow food by taking Nature as the Capital which is the main mantra for successful Organic Farming.
- · Indigenous food crops give a market identity. And North east India is the hub of indigenous varieties of food crops ranging from the Black rice of Manipur to King chillis and different coloured maize of Nagaland to the turmeric of Meghalaya to the scented rice of Assam to the bird’s eye chilli of Mizoram to the kiwis and apples of Arunachal to the whole range of Organic products of Sikkim, Northeast India is the hub for feeding the whole country with good food.
- · Many indigenous crops grown in the region are the favourite food crops of other Southeast Asian Countries and with the initiative of opening the roadways through the Northeast, our region will become the export zone for these crops and food items and thus, it will be the hub for export of organic products.
- · Organic Carbon status of the soil in the region makes it more suitable for organic farming and we have Bamboos growing naturally which is a big help in Organic farming as it traps most of the carbon and is the best resource to develop the bio intensive raised beds for organic farming. Bamboo bio char fertilizer has remarkable effect in organic farming and we can be the hub for production and use of Bamboo bio char fertilizers in Organic agriculture.
- · Aristotle told that future diseases will be cured by good food and not pharmaceutical medicines. Northeast India is the hub for Nutraceutical plants having both nutrition and therapeutic use. These are the future food for good health and we have lakhs of these species in our region. These makes Northeast India to be the hotspot zone for the Organic Food Industry.
- · One step ahead of Organic Farming, Northeast India is the hub for Zero Budget Ecological Farming Practices where food can be grown naturally with the forest. All the beneficial microorganisms in our soil must not be destroyed in the hills by extensive tillage and modern agricultural practices and made into Ecological Farming zones. Successful models of Edible Food Forest and Low cost Ecological Farming has been developed by the young Agripreneurs of Northeast. Sungwa Organic Farm & Learning Centre in Dimapur in Nagaland and SPREAD NE Ecological Farm Learning Centre in Sonapur in Assam are good examples of how this form of farming is best suited to the region.
- · North East India is also hub for Organic Meat and animal products. Indigenous varieties of domestic animals are found in the region which can create huge demand in the International market. Local Country chickens, indigenous pig breeds of Nagaland with high protein content, goats and cows can be highly demanding in today’s world of Genetically modified food items. Start-ups by agripreneurs in this section are finding good grip in the market.
- · Northeast India is the most suitable place for Agro tourism and that can create a big marketing prospect for the organic products of the region. Organic farming and Agro tourism can go together making the region into an Organic Hub.
