The A’chik Association for the Protection of Environment (AAPE) distributed potato seeds to farmers in Waribokgre yesterday to promote organic farming and local agriculture.
AAPE General Secretary Joshua Ch Marak said, “It is the heart and soul of AAPE to eliminate the total dependence on outsiders for potatoes” and other vegetable by practising organic farming in the fertile, yet underutilized, land of Garo Hills. “We are committed to spread awareness regarding the advantages of organic vegetables and disadvantages of inorganic vegetables to the people of Garo Hills.”
The negative consequence of depending on imports into the state for vegetables can be seen from price hikes, Marak said. “We are blessed with fertile land where everything grows easily. We must export our surplus produce rather than importing from outsiders,” he added.
AAPE also aims to promote the raising of other crops, such as onions and cabbage, as is suitable to the different environments found in Garo Hills.
“To improve the natural environment, climatic environment and other aspects, we first need to be self-sufficient and improve the social environment. Then only can we move towards the different aspects of the environment,” he said.
