In 2026, IFOAM – Organics Asia and APEDA continued their collaboration to organize international buyer–seller meets to support the development of organic agriculture in Northeast India. The year began with an event in the State of Sikkim, where more than a hundred participants from over ten countries gathered to connect with local farmers, processors, exporters, and other stakeholders from the region’s organic sector.

The event created opportunities for networking, knowledge exchange, and international market linkages for Sikkim’s organic producers and farmer groups. International buyers and exporters engaged with producers showcasing certified organic products including large cardamom, turmeric, mandarin, buckwheat, orchids, and the GI-tagged Dalle Khursani.

Technical discussions during the event focused on organic certification, export readiness, traceability systems, labelling requirements, and evolving international market opportunities. A knowledge report on strengthening Sikkim’s organic export ecosystem was also presented, highlighting the importance of infrastructure, aggregation systems, and farmer-focused market development.

The programme also included field visits to organic cardamom farms and organic processing units across Sikkim. For many international delegates visiting the region for the first time, the visits offered valuable insight into Sikkim’s organic farming systems, post-harvest practices, and community-led agricultural approaches, while also creating new opportunities for partnerships and collaboration.