Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling today defended the government's proposed move to ban non-organic produces from outside, saying such a measure will promote consumption of locally grown organic products and make the state self-reliant in the long run.
The Sikkim government had yesterday withdrew a bill that sought a ban on supply of non-organic produces in Sikkim from outside, citing paucity of time.
"The proposed move to ban supply of non-organic produces in a phased manner in Sikkim from outside has been taken to boost production and consumption of organic produces grown domestically for a host of reasons," Chamling said in the state Assembly during his 90-minute speech at the two-day special session of the House.
"By taking a tough decision like banning supply of non-organic produces from outside in a phased manner in Sikkim and giving impetus to production and consumption of organic produces that we can make, our state will be self-reliant in farm sector in the long run," he said.
The proposed measure will boost farm income and take care of health of the people as well as soil and environment, the long serving chief minister said.
He, however, remained mum as to why his government yesterday withdrew the Sikkim Non-Organic Agriculture and Horticulture Commodities (Prohibition and Regulatory) Bill, 2018 that sought a ban on supply of non-organic vegetables, livestock and other produce in Sikkim from outside with effect from March 31, 2018.
Chamling likened the 'America First' policy of the US President Donald Trump and hard work and enterprise of the Japanese on way to defending his government's decision to ban supply of non-organic produces from outside in a phased manner.
"We can and will protect the interests of the Sikkimese people by following the 'America First' policy as well as enterprise and hard work of the Japanese people," he said.
Chamling, however, conceded that the decision to ban supply of non-organic produces like vegetables and fruits from outside will create crisis because of inadequate production of organic produces domestically, but hoped that the people will manage for the time being in the larger interests of the state.
It was for this anticipated shortage of organic produce that his government has deferred ban on supply of potato and onion to next year as there is huge demand for these produces in the state.
Chamling said that by going ahead with ban on supply of non-organic produces in Sikkim in phased manner, his government wants only rice and petro products to be supplied from outside in state in the future.
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