First Union Territory to become 100% Declared an Organic Union Territory : Lakshadweep

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Lakshadweep 

• Under the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) of India, entire Lakshadweep group of islands has been declared as an organic agricultural area
• It is the first Union Territory to become 100% organic as all farming is carried out without the use of chemical/synthetic fertilizers and pesticides

Key Point Of 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

• Implemented by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoA & FW)
• 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.
• 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.