Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – International Relations
In news
Entire Lakshadweep group of islands has been declared as an organic agricultural area under the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) of India.
Lakshadweep is the first Union Territory to become 100% organic as all farming is carried out without the use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides.
Important value addition
Lakshadweep
It is India’s smallest Union Territory.
It is an archipelago consisting of 36 islands.
There are three main group of islands: (1) Amindivi Islands; (2) Laccadive Islands; (3) Minicoy Island.
All are tiny islands of coral origin (Atoll) and are surrounded by fringing reefs.
Participatory Guarantee System
PGS is a process of certifying organic products, which ensures that their production takes place in accordance with laid-down quality standards.
The certification is in the form of a documented logo or a statement.
Implemented by: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
It is only for farmers or communities that can organise and perform as a group within a village or a cluster of contiguous villages.
It is applicable only to farm activities such as crop production, processing, and livestock rearing, and off-farm processing by PGS farmers of their direct products.
Do you know?
Organic farming is a system of farm design and management to create an ecosystem of agriculture production without the use of synthetic external inputs such as chemical fertilisers, pesticides, etc.
