With reference to organic farming in India, consider the following statements: 1. The National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) is operated under the guidelines and directions of the Union Ministry of Rural Development. 2. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) functions as the Secretariat for the implementation of NPOP. 3. Sikkim has become India’s first fully organic State. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: The National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) is operated under the guidelines and directions of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, not the Ministry of Rural Development or the Ministry of Agriculture. It provides the framework for the accreditation of certification bodies and standards for organic production.
Statement 2 is correct: The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) functions as the Secretariat for the implementation of NPOP. APEDA is a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry responsible for the export promotion of agricultural products.
Statement 3 is correct: In 2016, Sikkim became India's first fully organic state, having successfully converted all its cultivable land to organic farming practices.
Therefore, the correct answer is 2 and 3 only.