The state of Sikkim in Northern India was declared the world’s first 100 per cent organic state, after the state won the prestigious Future Policy Gold Award from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), after beating 51 nominations from around the world.
Sikkim has, over the years, reformed itself as an environmentally responsible state, taking major steps to help it develop into a tourism haven. The state was the first in India to officially adopt organic farming in 2003, a decision that has paid off in the long run, ensuring sustenance of soil fertility, healthy living, and decreasing the risk of health ailments.
In 2003, Sikkim banned the imports of chemical fertilizers in the state. Farmers in the state have been using organic manure since 2003. Moreover, all of the state’s farmlands are organically certified, which is a great achievement for any state.
Not only has the transition from chemical fertilisers and pesticides helped the environment but has also benefited more than 66000 farming families. In addition to this, the number of tourists increased by over 50 per cent between 2014 to 2017, setting a fine example for other Indian states and other countries.