Amidst the countless reports of increasing use of chemical fertilizers, some good news too has trickled in from Takmachik village in the region where a project based on organic farming has been implemented. Takmachik village was launched as Eco -Green village by His Holiness Drikung Skyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche along with CEC, Rigzin Spalbar, EC’s and district officers on 17th March at Takmachik Village. It is an initiative of the villagers, LAHDC and Ladakh Environment and Health Organisation (LEHO). 

Welcoming the guest, Morup Dorjey said that the villagers are practicing organic farming from the last 5 years in collaboration with LEHO. He said, “It should not remain just as Eco Green village by name but should set an example for other villagers to follow organic farming. We have the problem of water scarcity and last year we tried to lift the water from Indus River and it was not successful due to shortage of power.” He requested the Irrigation and PHE Department to look after the problem and solve it.  Otherwise, it is of no use making it Eco Green village as water is the main source for Agriculture.

HH Skyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche congratulated the villagers, LAHDC and said that Takmachik is the ideal place to practise organic farming because the village is covered on all the four sides by mountains. Talking about the use of increase chemical fertilisers he said that many places are using chemical fertilizers and Ladakh is no exception. Using chemical fertilizers is the main root of cancer.  Within 2-3 years, even Ladakh saw rise in the cancer patients due to the changing lifestyle.

“The big companies will never think of the drawbacks of using chemical fertilizers risking the life of people. They inject the vegetables, fruits and meat to make it big and it badly affects the health of the people. Citing an example, he said that in Himachal excessive use of chemical in Apples are causing breast cancer among the population. We all should emphasize on practising organic farming in Ladakh.

CEC, Rigzin Spalbar said that during his sham visit in 2014 he announced to make it an Eco green village keeping in mind the sustainable development, vision 2025 and hard work of the villagers. He further informed that the different department have submitted project keeping in mind the village under convener, Jigmet Takpa.

Calling it a very fortunate day he emphasised on the contributions of HH Chetsang Rinpoche who  have recently implemented a project of Go Green-Go Organic in Lalok Changthang planting seabuckthorn not only this but the launched of Ice Stupa in Phyang also.

Talking about the changes that Ladakh is going through he said that all over the world thousands of people are dying of hunger but Ladakh is the only place where people did not die of Hunger. It is because of the hard work of our ancestors and in the same way we should be responsible to use our resources wisely. Despite many hardships our ancestors survived and to survive in such a place, is not more than a miracle. But, unfortunately, our generation believe in spoon feeding.Today our generation have everything we needed.But the question is...Are we happy?, questions Rigzin Spalbar. 

“It is the responsibility of the villagers to make it a reality and should not depend on the council. All the villagers should think about capacity building.  

In these days when people are quitting agriculture citing urbanisation, this is a perfect example of focussing on sustainable development.