Bhutan Aims to Be First Country With 100% Organic Agriculture

By Mat McDermott, TreeHugger

Bhutan is taking another interesting step towards creating a more ecological sustainable world. NPR reports that the tiny Himalayan nation, sandwiched between India and China and probably best known for promoting Gross National Happiness as a measurement of national progress, is attempting to make the transition to only employing organic agricultural methods.

The nation has a slight advantage in this goal, as many of its farmers already are organic by default, if not by certification.

NPR:

“The Ministry of Agriculture says the organic program, launched in 2007, is not just about protecting the environment. It will also train farmers in new methods that will help them grow more food and move the country closer to self-sufficiency. The ministry is now training extension workers in organic methods and giving farmers who go organic priority for government assistance.”

Bhutan is not alone in the region with its all-organic ambition.

Directly across the border, the Indian state of Sikkim is already one-third of the way to being all-organic by 2015; and, at the opposite end of the nation, the state of Kerala began a decade-long transition to all-organic agriculture in 2010.

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Donna H.

7:42AM PST on Nov 22, 2012

Good for them!

November 22
send a green star

Walter G.

12:51PM PDT on Aug 7, 2012

Ever try to define "Organic?" In an industrialized country it can go right back to genetic modificaiton. Just as with so many buzz-words before it, it needs to be replaced with something more narrow in definition and scope.

August 7
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Anya G.

4:33PM PDT on Aug 5, 2012

Wow, for the comments calling Bhutan a shining beacon of hope, youperhaps may want to direct your attention to the amount of human suffering that goes on there. A good portion of their population was persecuted, exiled, land stolen, and to this day are considered illegal immigrants by a government that reaps the benefits of stolen land. Not to mention the amount of "unnaccounted" for that simply vanished because they didn't want to be forced from their home and country.

Real warm and fuzzy, I tell you.....Beacon of hope. Perhaps, everyone will follow.

August 5
send a green star

4:30PM PDT on Aug 5, 2012

Gross national happiness? Sorry, but this is teh same government that expelled Lhotshampas from their homes, forcing them into refugee camps. I'm assuming that organic farm was stolen. Sadly, althoug these people were citizens, the govenment has expelled them from thier homes, their country, stolen their land and declared them illegal immigrants.

Yep...real warm and fuzzy story.

10:31AM PDT on Aug 5, 2012

this is GREAT news! now for the whole world to follow in their footsteps.!!!
i love the Gross National Happiness quotient....most countries would not have a high score!

Janet G.

8:55AM PDT on Aug 5, 2012

And, of course, I foresee the US being the last country to ever attempt to go totally organic, or anything else, for that matter, that would benefit the environment or those who have to live here. Ugh!

Congrats to Bhutan, and those others who follow in their footsteps in this regard!

Debrah R.

1:48PM PDT on Aug 4, 2012

Is there some way to congratulate the government of Bhutan? This is great news!

August 4
send a green star

Kimberlee W.

12:39PM PDT on Aug 3, 2012

Meanwhile, Monsanto just paid off the gov't. of Mongolia to ensure that ONLY Monsanto technology will be used there. The farmers aren't being given a choice.