The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, in collaboration with the Government of Sikkim and in association with IFOAM-Asia, organized the Sikkim Organic Conclave-cum-International Buyer Seller Meet (IBSM) in Gangtok.
During the conclave, a knowledge report titled “Study on Supply Chain & Export Readiness for Organic Farm Products in Sikkim” was released. Prepared by NICDC Logistics Data Services Ltd. (NLDSL), the report outlines a roadmap to strengthen Sikkim’s organic export ecosystem through improved infrastructure, streamlined processes, enhanced aggregation, transparent price discovery, and strategic market positioning. It identifies measures to improve export competitiveness while ensuring sustainability, traceability, and farmer-centric growth.
The event witnessed significant international participation, with around 40 buyers from 17 countries, including South Korea, UAE, Mongolia, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Singapore, Norway, Kuwait, and the United Kingdom, among other key markets. About 20 leading Indian exporters, including NCEL, Basillia Organics, Flex Foods, and Nexton, participated in a structured Buyer–Seller Meet with approximately 100 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs/FPCs) from Sikkim. The interaction was coordinated by the Department of Agriculture & Horticulture, Government of Sikkim, and the Sikkim Organic Farming Development Agency (SOFDA).
The inaugural session was graced by the Minister for Agriculture of Sikkim, Puran Kumar Gurung; Chairman, APEDA, Abhishek Dev; Commissioner & Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Horticulture, Government of Sikkim, Jigmee Dorjee Bhutia; Executive Director, IFOAM Organics Asia, Jennifer H. Chang; along with other senior dignitaries and officials from APEDA, the Government of Sikkim, and stakeholders from the organic and export sectors.
An exhibition featuring around 12 exhibitors showcased Sikkim’s certified organic products, including large cardamom, GI-tagged dalle khursani, Sikkim mandarin, buckwheat, turmeric, and orchids. The exhibition highlighted the state’s diverse and export-ready organic produce and attracted interest from international buyers.
Sikkim became India’s first fully organic state in 2016, enabling its produce to gain recognition under APEDA’s export certification system. The state was conferred the Future Policy Gold Award by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in 2018 in recognition of its leadership in organic agriculture.
A technical session was also conducted to sensitize stakeholders on the 8th Edition of the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), covering updated regulations and labelling requirements. The session aimed to enhance awareness among exporters, FPOs, and certification bodies regarding compliance standards, traceability norms, and international equivalence requirements, thereby reinforcing India’s credibility in global organic trade.
The second phase of the event includes field visits by international buyers and exporters to high-potential organic production clusters in Sikkim. The visits are intended to provide first-hand exposure to certified organic farming practices, traceability systems, post-harvest handling, and value-added processes. Interactions with farmers and FPOs are expected to strengthen farm-to-market linkages and enhance buyer confidence in Sikkim’s quality standards and export readiness.
Through initiatives such as the Organic Conclave-cum-IBSM, APEDA continues to promote organic exports, expand market access, build capacity among FPOs and exporters, and position Sikkim as an important contributor to India’s growing organic export sector.
