Bangalore: Mizoram is all set to become the first state in the country to ban fertilisers and pesticides for agriculture and encourage organic food produce.

"I have asked the Government to introduce a legislation in the forthcoming Assembly session to ban fertilisers and pesticides and encourage organic food," Mizoram Governor A R Kohli told industry leaders today (Dec 13, 2003) at the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII)-sponsored Human Resources Conclave in Bangalore aimed at employment generation for youth from Northeast region.

"We will be the first State to go for organic food production, once we do, other States in the region will follow," Kohli said.

Asserting that Northeastern States were at a take-off stage, he said, the emphasis of the Governments was on encouraging self-employment among youth and bring prosperity to the region.

"Our focus is on organic food, plantation, tourism industry, entertainment and sports activities, besides allied business like food processing for the entire region," Kohli said, inviting business leaders to partner with local entrepreneurs and transfer technology and skills to build joint businesses.

The Government, he said, was encouraging youth in sports activities, and about 50 football fields had been set up in Mizoram, from five two years ago, and this would be increased to over 500 in future.

PTI