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Odisha to promote organic farming with United Nations Environment Programme

The Odisha government and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have decided to collaborate to promote organic farming in the state.

Executive director of UNEP, Erik Solheim met chief minister Naveen Patnaik discussed the scope of organic farming in Odisha.

There is a lot of scope for organic farming in Odisha for which the state government is interested in sustainable and climate resilient organic agriculture. Organic farming should be given importance in rain-dependent and tribal areas of Odisha where there is no application of chemicals in agriculture, said Naveen Patnaik.

UNEP is interested to take up programmes in social and economic fields and for environment protection in Odisha, Erik Solheim said there is scope for organic farming which can be successful with cooperation from the government.

A ten-member team from UNEP headed by Erik Solheim attended a high level meeting presided over by chief secretary AP Padhi where applying green technology to achieve sustainable development was discussed.

Generating solar energy, promoting organic farming and developing Odisha’s traditional agricultural potential.

AP Padhi said appropriate marketing mechanisms should be created to encourage farmers to take up production of maize, millets and other foodgrains. Padhi suggested that a joint committee be constituted to identify specific areas for future collaboration between Odisha and UNEP.

Source:http://www.newindianexpress.com/