What Happens When A Whole State Bans Pesticides?

Every foodie and every farmer grapples with several conundrums: How to feed people without exposing them to harmful pesticides? How to protect and restore the population of wildlife and bees?  How to harvest the richness of the earth without exploiting it?

The tiny Indian state of Sikkim chose a radical path: It banned pesticides and chemical fertilizers altogether, making their use a criminal offense in 2014. Recently it went even further: It banned plasticware and also the import of most non-organic vegetables.

If you have ever traveled through India, you know how courageous these decisions are. I have lived in India for several years and am still haunted by the sight of gorges overflowing with discarded plastic bags and beaches littered with trash.

The upside for Sikkim is obvious: Tourism is flourishing, unprecedented numbers of farmers have switched to organic farming, and officials praise the change as a visionary blueprint for a healthy future. They say that the move to all-organic has health benefits for Sikkimese, who are getting more nutritious food, and has rejuvenated the health of its soil as well as wildlife and dwindling bee populations.

But I appreciate this article also for its honesty: Author Annie Gowen does not gloss over the hardship the changes brought to some farmers, and she highlights the education and support programs that are necessary to bring everybody on board.

Can this be a model for other states? You decide.