Moa Jamir
Nagaland is often celebrated as a state inherently committed to organic principles. This idealistic portrayal has not only permeated the beliefs of its residents but also shapes external perceptions. At the G-20 B20 Conference in April 2023, Nagaland's Chief Minister advocated for investments in organic farming, citing the region's favourable climate for agricultural production. He emphasised that Nagaland's agricultural output remains organic due to the use of natural pesticides, positing the state as a promising arena for future yield increases.
However, when these utopian assertions are contrasted with ground realities, a starkly different narrative emerges. The recently released SDG Index 2023-24 by NITI Aayog underscores this contrast. Despite significant environmental initiatives, Nagaland faces formidable challenges in maintaining sustainable progress. Trends over recent years indicate setbacks rather than advancements.
The SDG Index evaluates 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with Nagaland's performance particularly scrutinised in environmental dimensions such as clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), climate action (SDG 13), and life on land (SDG 15).
Between 2020-21 and 2023-24, Nagaland improved its scores in two environmental goals—Climate Action (SDG 13) and Life on Land (SDG 15). However, it regressed in four others, notably in Sustainable Cities and Communities and Responsible Consumption and Production.
Of particular concern is Nagaland's excessive use of nitrogenous fertilisers, which at 100% outstrips the national average of 65.24%. As per the report, the recommended balanced ratio for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) stands at 4:2:1. The 100% usage reflects Nagaland's departure from sustainable practices despite its organic claims. The adverse impacts of excessive of use of nitrogen in agriculture including water pollution, soil degradation, health risks and biodiversity loss etc are well documented.
Besides, the State has seen an upsurge in per capita fossil fuel consumption, zero hazardous waste recycling, and an alarming increase in plastic waste generation. Other environmental indicators also paint a sobering picture: reduced door-to-door waste collection, poor waste management, and inadequate source segregation. Urban areas exhibit a dismal 0% capacity to treat sewage relative to generated waste.
Additionally, the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) cited in the report informed that Nagaland's forest cover decreased from 12,486 square kilometres in 2019 to 12,251 sq km in 2021. While tree cover saw a marginal increase, desertification rates declined sharply from 22.82% to 5.37% in 2023-24.
Hence, Nagaland's environmental aspirations encounter significant challenges and reality check despite its organic farming rhetoric. A pertinent question arises: Is the definition of 'organic' being misunderstood by stakeholders, particularly farmers? This calls for targeted intervention and reorientation to correct course and dispel misconceptions. Overall, the State's journey towards sustainability is marked by notable setbacks across various SDGs, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive policy reform and stringent implementation strategies to bridge the gap between aspiration and reality.
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