Sikkim To Get Organic Agriculture University, CM Lays Foundation Stone
On Sunday, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang inaugurated the groundbreaking ceremony for the Sikkim Organic Agriculture University (SOAU) in Mondegaon, located within the Soreng district. Highlighting Sikkim's pioneering status as India's inaugural organic state, Tamang emphasized that the SOAU is poised to become a center of excellence dedicated to imparting knowledge on organic farming disciplines.
Tamang noted that a significant number of students from Sikkim currently seek education in agriculture, horticulture, and forestry outside the state. Drawing attention to his encounter with over 500 such students pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in these domains in Dehradun, he underscored that the establishment of SOAU will obviate the need for Sikkimese students to venture beyond the state's borders for these studies. He further urged officials to promptly identify temporary facilities for initiating academic programs.
Earlier this year, the Sikkim assembly passed the Sikkim Organic Agriculture University Act of 2023. This legislative move will not only advance educational pursuits but also stimulate economic activities in the previously remote Mondegaon region, as articulated by the chief minister. He envisaged SOAU evolving into a nucleus of economic engagement, fostering employment prospects for local residents as the infrastructure matures over the course of a year.