Knowledge Report on Supply Chain and Export Readiness of Sikkim’s Organic Produce Released at Conclave

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, organised the Sikkim Organic Conclave-cum-International Buyer Seller Meet (IBSM) in Gangtok, Sikkim.

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 Organisations (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 Minister for Agriculture, Government of Sikkim, Shri Puran Kumar Gurung; Chairman, APEDA, Shri Abhishek Dev; Commissioner & Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Horticulture, Government of Sikkim, Shri Jigmee Dorjee Bhutia; Executive Director, IFOAM Organics Asia, Ms. Jennifer H. Chang; along with other senior dignitaries and officials from APEDA, the Government of Sikkim and stakeholders from the organic and export sector.

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 sensitise 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 addition 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.

Organic export compliance reinforced to boost traceability and market access following Sikkim supply chain and export readiness roadmap. APEDA organised an Organic Conclave in Sikkim and released a Knowledge Report proposing a roadmap of infrastructure upgrades, streamlined processes, aggregation, price discovery and strategic positioning to improve export competitiveness while ensuring sustainability and traceability. The event included international buyer engagement and a technical session on the 8th Edition of the NPOP to raise compliance awareness among exporters, FPOs and certification bodies, and featured field visits to certified production clusters to strengthen farm to market linkages and buyer confidence in export readiness.