Shillong: Meghalaya is working to become the country’s largest “organic coverage state” and has initiated steps to reduce the use of chemical fertilisers, which will be gradually phased out, CM Conrad K Sangma told the assembly on Thursday.“Meghalaya and the whole world is trying to move towards organic. We are not here to encourage, but to discourage use of fertilizers. Bio-fertilizers have been introduced. We are in a transition mode and we hope one day we will not have any chemical fertilizers,” Sangma said during the fourth day of the ongoing autumn session.“The correct mechanism followed by the rest of the world is testing the soil. We are now moving towards having more and more certification towards organic and Meghalaya is very well poised today,” he said.“We have notified certain areas where fertilizers can be used or are being used and beyond that we are not allowing as we want to discourage use of fertilizer,” the CM added.Sangma was responding during Question Hour to concerns raised by Voice of the People party MLA from Nongkrem, Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, over farmers allegedly being forced to buy single super phosphate (SSP) at Rs 900 per bag. Shira said 129 inspectors were conducting regular checks and that retailers were required to display govt-fixed rates and sell fertilisers accordingly.
