AGRICULTURE IN SIKKIM

STATUS AND PROSPECTS

R. K. AVASTHE
U. GUPTA
YASHODA PRADHAN
G. SHARMA
ASHISH YADAV
SUBHASH BABU
LAXUMAN SHARMA
RAJENDRA P GURUNG

Coordinated by: KHORLO BHUTIA

FOOD SECURITY AND AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
GOVERNMENT OF SIKKIM

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 CONTENTS
Page
1. Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………. 3
2. Historical Perspective………………………………………………………………… 4
3. Soils of Sikkim………………………………………………………………………… 5
4. Farming Systems…………………………………………………………………….. 6
5. Traditional Agro Forestry Systems in Sikkim…………………………………. 11
6. Nutrient Management in Traditional Agriculture…………………………….. 14
7. Relevance of the Technology Adopted by the Farmers………………………. 17
8. Blending of Indigenous Technology with Latest Scientific Techniques…… 18
9. Crop Production Situation Analysis…………………………………………….. 19
10. Trends in Agricultural policies…………………………………………………… 20
11. The shift to Organic Farming…………………………………………………….. 21
12. Crop Diversification………………………………………………………………… 30
13. Climate Change Impact on Agro-diversity in the Sikkim Himalaya
– Observed Indicators and People perceptions and adaptation measures……. 40
14. Indigenous Varieties, Landraces and Underutilized Crops of Sikkim Himalayas.. 53
15. Traditional Ecological Knowledge related to Rainfall Patterns……........... 56
16. Recognition of Sikkim Himalayan Agri-diversity in UN-FAO-GIAHS……… 58
17. Indigenous Knowledge on Food Processing and Indigenous Food Products……. 59
18. Emerging and Potential Livelihood Options in Sikkim Himalayas .……… 62
19. Some Issues and Concerns about Agriculture in Sikkim ………………….. 67
20. Recommendations…………………………………………………………………… 68
21. Annexure ………………………………………………………………………………. 70

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INTRODUCTION
Agriculture is the mainstay of majority rural populace of Sikkim. The economy of the state is
linked with agriculture that serves as the source of livelihood and economic security of a
sizeable native population. The growth, however, has been restricted because of biotic and
abiotic factors. It is estimated that over 80 per cent of the rural population depends on
agriculture and allied sectors for economic, food, and nutritional security. The agricultural
systems practiced in Sikkim are integrated in nature that have evolved through years of
experimentation by the farmers and withstood the test of time. A marginal improvement in
the lifestyle of the farmers has been witnessed with the adoption of modern technologies.

Sikkim basically an agrarian economy has a total geographical area of 7096 sq km, out of
which only 10.5% is available for cultivation. The net cultivated area of Sikkim has remained
around 75,000 ha (inclusive of large cardamom plantations) for the last decade or so while
the net cropped area has decreased due to diversion to non-agricultural uses like
development of essential infrastructure.

Major crops of the State are maize, rice, wheat, millet, buckwheat, pulses and oilseeds. This
sector contributes around 40% towards SGDP. The totally hilly state has agro ecological
regions ranging from sub-tropical to alpine in the upper reaches. Most of the agricultural
land is located around 1800 meter elevation; however in few cases it extends even upto
3000 meters. No single crop or a variety of crop suits all the elevations. Even though
agriculture is crucial to the economy of the state it is largely rainfed with traditional systems
of cultivation with low level of external inputs. Although rainfall in the state is quite high, yet
due to inadequate effort in harnessing the available resource the area under the irrigation is
hardly about 11%.

The agriculture scenario is dominated by soil acidity, excess moisture during monsoon
period and moisture stress during post monsoon / winter, heavy weed infestation, low
temperature stress during winter hailstorms in pre-kharif maize (March-April), and incessant
rain from May to September that causes leaching of nutrients and pesticides applied to
kharif crops. The prevailing climate favours high incidence of diseases and insect pests that
drastically reduce the crop yields.

The factor productivity in Sikkim is lower than both the regional and national averages for all
the major field crops. Increasing per unit productivity is the key in bridging this gap. This can
be achieved with area expansion under high yielding varieties along with a proper package
of practices that will exploit the inherent production potential of varieties designed for
organic farming from the local gene pool. This needs to be supplemented by soil-test values
based nutrient management and appropriate plant protection measures.

The per capita land holding has also seen a continuous fall since the 1970s. Diversion of the
agricultural land to non-agricultural uses, population increase and family fragmentation has
decreased the per capita land holdings of the net cultivated area. The smaller the land
holding size, the higher is the vulnerability for loss of various natural resources, particularly

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the soil. Most of the cultivable lands are terraced and farmers have settled on these
holdings with established regular cropping systems. Marginal holdings and small holdings
clubbed together comprise about 50% of all operational holdings and occupy 41% of the
total area. In spite of limited cultivated land in Sikkim, agricultural development could make
considerable progress in the last three decades.

Agriculture in the hilly regions of India has always been a challenge. While the technology
interventions added during the last five decades have changed the face of agriculture in the
plain areas of India, it has not brought about significant change in the scenario of the hills.
The State, till recently, was largely untouched by the agricultural development that was
taking place in the other parts of the country. The use of synthetic chemicals was already
minimal and much below the national average. Additionally, owing to difficult terrain and
low availability of cultivable land area agriculture was practiced at a traditional subsistence
level. Given this scenario, going the organic way fully was seen as an opportunity that was
lying untapped. The government has declared that Sikkim shall become fully organic by
2015. While organic farming practices along the hilly states generally revolves around
securing livelihoods in their small rainfed farms, the approach currently adopted by the
Sikkim Government seeks to transform ever inch of the soil into organically viable and
sustainable land and thereby promote Sikkim as a brand entity in organic farming.

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
The Sikkim Lepcha(s) lived in harmony with their natural resources, and their food habits
included a great variety of forest produce, chiefly tubers like different wild yams, and
various leaves which were used as seasoning. Both meat and vegetables were
supplementary dishes to supplement the cultivated cereals (Gorer 1938). They were
practicing slash and burn cultivation (Zomal), which consisted of clearing of forest in early
spring (March) and setting all the debris afire. After burning, the crops were sown in holes
poked into the soil by a pointed stick. The principal crops were dry rice and millets. After the
harvest of rice or millets, the field was sown with buckwheat. Thereafter land was allowed
to lie fallow for several years. The low populations allowed this sustainable system of
maintaining soil fertility to prevail and thereby prevented soil erosion and soil exhaustion.

The Bhutia tribe of Tibet as herdsmen came into Sikkim during the 16th Century in search of
new pastures and trade markets. Their food habits were almost similar to those of the
Lepchas and they acquired the best land in the cool hills. They also started slash and burn
agriculture on good soil of hill slopes to satisfy their immediate need without disturbing the
hill ecosystems. The Nepalese started to settle in large numbers in Sikkim in the beginning of
18th Century and made the significant contribution of agriculture based on land utility. By
the end of 19th Century, almost every suitable part of land below 1800 m was cleared for
agriculture (Risley 1893). Nepalese settlers have constructed the bench terraces to cultivate
irrigated rice at the will of Bhutia landlords (Kazis). Initially, Lepchas were not interested in
terraced cultivation. The British Government, after 1874-75 forced them to settle down and
banned the destruction of reserve forestland through shifting agriculture. Thereafter, in
almost one century, Lepchas themselves shifted from Zomal to terraced agriculture on slopy
hills and the former is almost non-existent at present.

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Forest, grasslands and agricultural land constitute the main ecosystems of the Sikkim
Himalaya. The existing traditional agriculture systems of Sikkim hills are classified into
Dhankheti, Sukhakheti, Elaichibari, Anganbari, Khasmal and Gorucharan. Most of the
present agricultural crops are cultivated as unaltered traditional systems developed through
generations practicing recycling of nutrients from organic manure, crop residues, forest
litter and local grasses/weeds.

SOILS OF SIKKIM
On the basis of physiography, the whole state can be divided into 6 physiographic zones;
summits and ridges; side slope of hills, narrow valley, cliff and precipitous slope, zone of
glacial drift and perpetual snow cover (Anonymous 1992). The entire state is a young
mountain system with highly folded and faulted rock strata at many places. The Daling
group of rock is found in the central part of Sikkim and composed of phyllites, schists, slates
and quartzites. The northern central part of West Sikkim chiefly made up of Darjeeling
gneiss. The gneiss of South Sikkim is highly micaceous and frequently passes into mica-
schists. The younger Gondwana contains sandstone, shale, and carbonaceous shale with
occasional thin coal bands.

Soils of Sikkim have been classified (Das et al., 1996) in to Inceptisol (42.84 %), Entisol (42.52
%) and Mollisol (14.64 %). Proximity to the Bay of Bengal and direct exposure to the south-
west monsoon makes this region the most humid in the entire Himalayas. An amalgamation
of conditions under the influence of heavy rains has generated sandy soils that are
moderately to strongly acid in reaction, low exchangeable bases and rich in organic matter
(Avasthe and Avasthe, 1996), high in available zinc, copper, iron and manganese contents
and deficient in available boron and molybdenum (Avasthe and Avasthe, 1995). Soils also
reveal considerable fixation of applied phosphorus. Of the four Districts of Sikkim, the
frequency of soil having pH less than 5 are 50 per cent in North Sikkim while in the others it
is about 12 per cent (Bhutia et al., 1985). Soil degradation status showed that out of
7,09,600 ha total geographic area about 2,34,401 ha (33.03 %) was affected by water
erosion causing low, medium, high and very high severity class of degradation. Soils affected
by water erosion causing loss of top soils occupy an area of 2,28,331 ha (32.18 %). Water
erosion also resulted in terrain deformation of 6,070 ha (0.85 %) (Das et al., 1996).

FARMING SYSTEMS
The main ecosystems of Sikkim can be classified as forests, grasslands and croplands or
agricultural lands. The agricultural lands can be placed in to dhankheti, sukhakheti, elaichibari,
kotheybari, khasmal and gorucharan categories. Predominantly there are three agricultural
seasons viz., i) pre-kharif or sukha-kheti when maize is sown from mid-February to mid-March
and sowing of ginger both as sole and intercrop along with maize; ii) kharif season or dhan-kheti
witnesses rice cultivation and iii) rabi, during which oilseeds, wheat and vegetables
predominate.

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Livestock are a strong and integral component of rural Sikkim. They rear different species of
animals for draught, milk, and meat purposes and they also supplement manure to meet the
nutrient requirement of crops. The crop diversity decreases whereas the livestock varied with
increase in altitude (Table 2). It was found that the prepared compost contained 1.1, 0.9 and
0.65 per cent N, P and K on dry weight basis, respectively.

1. Irrigated wetlands (Dhan-kheti): Rice is cultivated on terraces (Fig.1) in nearly 12000 ha with
1757 kg/ha productivity during 2011-12 (Anonymous, 2013). Traditional cultivars still dominate
the rice-growing scenario of Sikkim. Traditional cultivars like Attey, Kanchi Attey, Chirakey,
Krishna bhog, Dut-Kati, Mansure, Phudungey, Kalo Nunia occupy > 50 % area. They are
adaptable but low yielders, susceptible to lodging and late maturing. Despite ‘On-Farm’
demonstrations conducted by the Department of Agriculture, Government of Sikkim using high
yielding varieties the adoption levels reached 43 per cent with HYVs like PD-12, PD-10, CAU-RI &
Malvia This is because of the ‘palatability preference’ for the traditional cultivars and their low
harvest index whereby considerable straw produced is used as livestock feed and cowshed
bedding material, rendering the situation favourable for conversion to organic. Rice is followed
by wheat, barley, potato, buckwheat, mustard, vegetables and fallow.

Table 2. Agro-ecosystems and crop components of Sikkim

Altitude range Sub-agro Ecological adaptation Crops

ecosystems Agriculture and horticulture

Lower hills Tropical Wet and dry agriculture, Rice, maize millet, wheat,
(300 – 900 m) sedentary farming, horticulture, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables,
livestock-goats, pigs, poultry, potato, guava, lime, lemon,
ducks, cattle and sheep mango, ginger, mandarin

Mid hill Sub-tropical Wet and dry agriculture,
(900 – 1800 m) livestock, horticulture and minor
forest produce, livestock-goats,
pigs, poultry, ducks, cattle and
sheep
Rice, maize, millet, wheat,
pulses, oilseeds, vegetables,
potato, mandarin, plum, peach,
pear, large cardamom

High hills Temperate Dry agriculture, Bhutia Maize, barley, vegetables,

(1800 – 2700 m) transhumance, livestock-cattle, potato, apple, plum, peach,
yaks, sheep, horses, mules peas

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 Sub-alpine Yak herding, horticulture, Mainly used for pasturage, seed
High hills and pastoral economy (wool, cheese, potato and vegetables
(2700 – 4000 m) Alpine butter, hides, and potato are
commercial commodities),
livestock-yaks, sheep, horses,
mules

Alpine Lachenpas and Lachungpas Mainly used for pasturage, seed

Very high hills trans-humance, Lachenpas grow potato and vegetables
(4000 – 5000 m) potato and vegetables, livestock-
yaks, sheep, horses, mules
Source: Modified from Patiram et al. (2001)

(Fig.1)
2. Dryland (Sukha-kheti): Maize occupies the majority of the cultivated area in entire Sikkim in
more than 39,000 ha with a productivity of 1680 kg/ha during 2011-12 (Anonymous, 2013).
Majority farmers still persist with the practice of growing maize by broadcasting the seeds,
mostly due to shortage of farm labours. This often results in below optimum plant population,
low use of fertilizers and heavy dependence on FYM were also resulting in low yields. The
traditional varieties still dominate the scene of maize cultivation in Sikkim. These traditional
varieties have over a period of time lost the crop vigour owing the open-pollinated nature of the
crop. Hence, the crop yields are low in the range of 1.2 to 1.4 t/ha. A large number of crops are
seen to be growing along with the maize crop as the intercrops. Maize in mandarin open spaces
is also common.

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 Dry land or Sukha Kheti
…Maize is a major Pre-Kharif crop
….It is sown in the Month of Feb-March

…Mustard and potato are grown during rabi season in dry land

3. Seed potato-based cropping system: Potato is grown in an area of 5148 ha with 4479 kg/ha
productivity during 2011-12 (Anonymous, 2013). Sikkim produces seed potato that is harvested
in August-September to reach the plains by November. Seed potato growing and marketing is a
sort of monopoly of the Hilley area. Seed potato is followed by maize, peas, finger millet,
soybean and fallow.

4. Ginger-based cropping system: Ginger, an important cash crop of the State is cultivated in
8900 ha with 5561 kg/ha productivity during 2011-12 (Anonymous, 2013). The cultivation
practices in Sikkim are different and distinctive as compared to other parts of the country as it is
grown on raised beds. Farmers reportedly apply very high quantities of FYM that could be up to
200 t/ha but commonly it is 40 to 60 t/ha. The planting material is all local and yields to the
tune of 15 to 25 t/ha were recorded (Patiram et al., 2001).

Ginger Based Cropping System

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5. Fruit trees-based cropping system: Sikkim is known for its quality mandarin which is
cultivated in an area of 8600 ha with a productivity of 3200 kg/ha while other fruits cover an
area of 4795 ha and recorded productivity of 1353 kg/ha during 2011-12 (Anonymous, 2013).
Mandarin, guava, papaya, peach, plum, and pear are the main fruit trees grown from tropical to
temperate agro-ecoregions in the state from 300 to 1500 m on terraces with varying
interspaces while apple is confined to Lachung valley 3000 m amsl. Given the small per capita
land holdings the farmers exploit the interspaces to grow various crops. This practice is
commonplace. Ginger, maize, turmeric, leguminous and non-leguminous vegetables, pulses are
grown as intercrops. The cultivation of ginger and /or maize crops as intercrops generates
negative impact on the health of the mandarin. The mandarin orchards are generally poorly
managed without necessary sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures.

Fr uit Crop Ba sed Fa rmi ng Sy ste m

The system is dom ina ted by Sikkim Ma nda rin and Pa ssion
Fruit
Ginge r, Tur me ric, Maize , Be ans are grown as int ercr op in
Sikkim Mandar in or char d

6. Homesteads: In Sikkim, it is a widespread practice that the surroundings of rural dwellings

are intensively utilized for cultivation of different tree species and rearing animals utilizing the
domestic and farm wastes. The dwellings of the farming community of Sikkim are either on own
land holding or on the fringes where vegetables, fruits, flowers, traditional medicinal plants,
fodder requirements are grown in the surroundings. Recent introductions are gladioli, tuberose
in floriculture, mushroom production (apart from collection of wild species), apiary, and fishery
in small tanks (grass carp and magur). Bamboo is an invaluable plantation that plays an essential
role in everyday life.

7. Vegetables-based cropping system: In harmony with the undulating topography, vegetable

cultivation extends from foothills to elevations up to 2000 m amsl. Seasonal vegetables are
cultivated on nearly 4081 ha with productivity of 5266 kg/ha during 2011-12 (Anonymous,
2013). The important vegetables of the state are:
i. Kharif vegetables: Brinjal, chillies, capsicum, French beans, cowpea, okra, cucumber,
pumpkin, bottle gourd, sponge gourd, ridge gourd, snake gourd, bitter gourd, sweet gourd,
balsum apple, chayote, etc.

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ii. Rabi vegetables: Cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, garden pea, French beans, radish, carrot,
turnip, spinach, amaranths, fenugreek, leafy mustard, lettuce, celery, coriander, leafy onion,
garlic, leek, potato, colocasia, elephant yam, etc.
iii. Off season vegetables: Cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels’ sprouts, radish, carrot,
tomato, green pea, French beans, spinach, leafy mustard, chayote, cucumber, amaranths, leafy
onion, summer potato, capsicum, asparagus, bamboo shoots, fern shoots, stinging nettles,
mushroom, etc.
iv. Off season vegetables cultivation: Many off-season vegetables are cultivated on more than
5540 ha with 5531 kg/ha productivity during 2011-12 (Anonymous, 2013). The agro-climatic
conditions of Sikkim are congenial for local and exotic vegetable cultivation throughout the
year. The common and commercial off-season vegetables are summer potato, summer tomato,
capsicum, chillies, tree tomato, green chillies, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels’ sprouts,
radish, carrot, turnip, beet root, garden pea, French beans, chayote, cucumber, green pumpkin,
amaranths, spinach, leafy mustard, leafy onion, leek, mushrooms, buck wheat leaves, etc.

8. Flower-based cropping systems: Sikkim, land of orchids with more than 450 species
possesses fascinating floral diversity; approximately 4500 species of flowering plants are
reported to occur in this region. Interestingly, Sikkim, which is a meagre 0.2% of the
geographical area of the country is bestowed with more than 26% of the flowering plants of
India. Orchidaceae, Cyperaceae, Juncaceae, Ericaceae, Rosaceae, Saxifragaceae were well
represented in the state of Sikkim. These apart, species belonging to Leguminosae,
Scrophulariaceae, Primulaceae, Rosaceae, Zingiberaceae displayed considerable presence
(Singh and Chauhan, 1997). Flowers gained importance as commercial crops during the last
decade. Orchids, gladioli, gerbera, anthurims, lilliums, asters, marigold and carnation are grown
as mono-crops. Gladioli are grown as intercrop with maize also. Flowers both cut/pot flowers
and plants/bulbs together are grown on nearly 210 ha with more than 23 lakhs numbers of
flower production during 201-12 (Anonymous, 2013).

9. Spices-based cropping system: Major spices of Sikkim include large cardamom, ginger,
turmeric, Red cherry pepper (Capsicum frutescens) and Bay leaf (collected from the forests,
Cinnamomum impressinervium). Turmeric is also grown both as sole and intercrop (with maize)
like ginger as stated earlier during pre-Kharif season. Red cherry pepper a prized spice is
cultivated during Kharif and sold at premium prices from Rs. 80 to 200/- per kg. Large
cardamom occupies the largest cultivated area and revealed typical growth requirements that
necessitatesd special mention amongst the spices of the state.

10. Large cardamom agroforestry: Very large forested areas exist in Sikkim with rural populace
participation in joint forestry management being the states’ priority. The largest agroforestry
system is large cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb.)-based that supports as many as 23 tree
species. India is the major producer of large cardamom, however, the plantations are limited
only to the sub-Himalayan Sikkim (19960 ha) and Darjeeling district of West Bengal (3000 ha)
with combined annual production of about 3150 MT of cured cardamom with a productivity of
158 kg/ha during 2005-06 (Anonymous, 2006). Normally large cardamom has been observed
to thrive well in association with the Himalayan Alder (Alnus nepalensis D. Don) and hence, this
alliance is also called as the large cardamom–Alnus agro-forestry system.

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Mainly five popular cultivars viz., Ramsey, Golsey, Seremna, Barlange and Sawney were
common in Sikkim. Several others include Ramla, Chivey, Ramsey, Ramnag, Madhusay, Seto
Golsey, Slant Golsey, Red Sawney, Green Sawney and Mingney, and Barlange Golsey.
Generally August-September for low and mid altitudes and November-December for high
altitude are the periods of harvesting. The average yields range from 100 to 400 kg/ha of dry
large cardamom (Pradhan and Avasthe, 2005). India is today the largest producer of large
cardamom in the world with 54% share, followed by Nepal (33%), and Bhutan (13%). Its fruit
(capsule) is used as spice/condiment and out of 4000 metric tonnes of annual output of
large cardamom in the country, 88% comes from Sikkim as the state’s major income earner.

Traditional agro forestry systems in Sikkim

A. Sub-tropical and Mid-hill temperate zone
Nine major agro forestry systems are in practice in the sub-tropical and mid-hill temperate
zones. These two zones do not reveal key differences in the crop or animal component
while tree component differed nearing elevation of 1800 m. The systems are agri-
horticultural, agri-horti-pastoral, agri-silvi-pastoral, horti-silviculture, agri-horti-silvi-pastoral,
livestock-based mixed farming, sericulture-based farming, bamboo-based farming,
homesteads and tea plantation.

Agri-horticultural system: Cultivation of sole maize, as an intercrop with ginger, turmeric,

Buckwheat, beans, pulse-type beans, tapioca and Sikkim mandarin-ginger/turmeric system
is most widespread in this system. In fact, maize occupies the highest acreage of 40,000 ha
in the state. Local cultivars dominated the scenario of the various crops cultivated along
with Sikkim mandarin and avocado. Sikkim mandarin + maize + ginger/turmeric
intercropping witnesses very heavy application of organic sources that ranges from 40 to
100 t/ha. Prominent ginger cultivars are “Bhaise” and “Gorubathane”. Various kinds of
vegetables are also cultivated mostly for self-consumption. Cultivation of flowers such as
cymbidium orchids, gladioli, carnation, gerbera, tuberose and marigold is also gaining
momentum.

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Agri-horti-pastoral system: In this system intercropping of cereal, oilseeds, pulses, beans,
millets, and spice like ginger and turmeric are cultivated in the interspaces of Sikkim
mandarin, avocado, guava and lemon trees. Broom grass is used as a vegetative barrier for
soil conservation and performs the role of winter fodder for the cattle, pigs and goats.
Collection of ferns, nettles, and other wild edibles was also common practice.

Agri-silvi-pastoral system: Crops such as maize, wheat, pulses, Buckwheat, oilseeds, beans
and finger millet are grown in association with trees that are used a fuel wood or crude
timber and winter fodder.

Horti-silviculture system: This is perhaps the best kind of synergism recorded where large
cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb.) thrives extremely well under the shade of more
than 10 species of tree species. It performs the best under the shade of alder (Alnus
nepalensis).

Agri-horti-silvipastoral system: In this system maize, tapioca, ginger, beans, pulses, oilseeds
and other crops are grown in association with tree species that fulfilled the fruit, fuel wood
and fodder requirements. Smallholdings of large cardamom are also recorded in this system.

Livestock-based mixed farming: Animal rearing is common to perhaps all the systems
irrespective of land holding size. Even landless residents maintain various animals. This
placed tremendous pressure on the natural resources. The annual consumption of green
fodder and fuel wood ranges from 300-400 tonnes and 70-80 tonnes, respectively, in the
subtropical zone, where agriculture is more intense than the higher agro-ecological regions.
Green fodder fed to the animals comprises foliage of various shrub and tree species. Most
of the animals are traditional, low yielding breeds.

Sericulture-based farming: Silkworms are reared on the foliage of mulberry (Morus

laevigata) and Terminalia sp. In the interspaces available crops such as pulses, oilseeds,
oats, millets and Broom grass are cultivated.

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Bamboo-based farming: The general observation regarding poor rate of survival of
vegetation under the shade of bamboo is an issue of larger discussion. Nevertheless, ginger,
turmeric, large cardamom and rice bean grow well up to a distance of 11 to 15 m from the
bamboo rows. 10 genera and 24 species of bamboo are reported from this small state. The
tender shoots of Chimonobambusa hookeriana (Munro) Nakai, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii
Nees & Arn. ex Munro., Drepanostachyum intermedium (Munro) Keng f, Himalayacalamus
falconeri (Hook. f. ex. Munro) and Phyllostachys bambusoides Sieb. & Zucc. are consumed in
different ways often considered a culinary delicacy (Singh, P. 2000, BSHC, Gangtok, Pers.
Commun.).

Homesteads: The dwellings of the farming community of Sikkim are either on own land
holding or on the fringes where vegetables, fruits, flowers, traditional medicinal plants,
fodder requirements are grown in the surroundings. Different kinds of animals are also
maintained. Gerbera, carnation, gladioli, tuberose in floriculture, mushroom production
(apart from collection of wild species), apiary, and fishery in small tanks (grass carp and
magur) are common.

Tea plantation: The State Government maintains one tea (Thea sinensis) plantation of 500
ha in the altitude range 1550 to 1800 m amsl. Wild cherry (Prunus cerasoides) is planted on
the boundaries and as avenue trees. The organic tea produced here is highly rated at the
Kolkata tea auctions. Recently there has been an increasing interest in private tea cultivation
amongst small growers.

B. Temperate zone
Only three agroforestry systems are observed in the temperate zone viz., agri-horticultural,
horti-silvi-pastoral and livestock-based mixed farming. The human population density is
lower than the earlier two altitude zones. Adaptability of crops to the climate decreases at
the higher altitudes and that reduces the farmers’ options towards the subalpine zone.

Agri-horticultural system: Here the tree components are just two, namely, Sikkim mandarin
and apple. Buckwheat, maize, barley and some vegetables were cultivated to utilize the
interspace. Rice is grown up to an altitude of 2000 m amsl. Seed and table potato and maize
were preferred.

Horti-silvi-pastoral: Maize, millets, and vegetables like potato (seed and table),
cole crops, peas, beans, radish and Brassica juncea var. rugosa (Raya saag) are grown along
with Sikkim mandarin (up to 2000m) and apple. Large cardamom grows well as an under
growth of various tree species up to an altitude of 2700 m amsl.

Livestock-based mixed farming system: Animals are an integral component of all the
agroforestry systems. At the high altitudes maintenance of sheep and nomadic herds of
dzo’s (semi-domesticated, cross-bred offspring of yak reared for milk and a range of by-
products) is recorded. Grazing pressure increases at the higher altitudes as most of the
fodder needs are collected from the wild despite a blanket ban by the State Government.

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C. Subalpine zone
In the higher altitudes the climate reduces the agroforestry systems to one in each zone.
Horti-pastoral-transhumance and livestock-based mixed farming (beyond timberline)-
transhumance are recorded in the subalpine and alpine zones, respectively. The local
community comprising mostly of the Bhutias migrate to the higher altitudes from April to
November every year and barely a few stayed back. The semi-domesticated dzo herds graze
at the higher altitudes and the survivors of the harsh winters of the higher and trans-
Himalayas were re-gathered by the owners the next summer. The extremities of the climate
reduce the options to animal-based ones, one in each zone.

Horti-pastoral-transhumance: Vegetables perform very well though the alternatives are

few. Potato (seed and table), cole crops, peas, beans, radish and Brassica juncea var. rugosa
(Raya saag) produced yields comparable with any other place. Maize could grows well up to
2000m amsl. Yaks, mules maintained for transportation and animals like sheep and dzo’s are
all nomadic grazers. At places yak herds of more than 200 can be recorded.

D. Alpine zone
Livestock-based mixed farming-transhumance: The system here is fully animal based with
the economy largely driven by the yak both as a source of livelihood and mode of transport
for humans and materials. The human population is small that indulged in production of
small quantities of potato, Brassica juncea var. rugosa (Raya saag), and radish and also
cabbage and peas upto 4200 m elevaion. The timberline was recorded at 4200 m amsl. The
vegetation is mostly herbaceous with woody species of Rhododendron lepidotum, R.
setosum, R. anthopogon, Juniperus prostrata, J. recruva, Betula utilis and stumps of Tsuga
sp. up to 4200 m. Large grazing herds of sheep and dzo’s are maintained for meat, milk and
other by-products. The pressure on natural resources and animal mortality rate is very high
(Avasthe, 1996).

Nutrient Management in Traditional Agriculture

The farmers of Sikkim make conscious efforts to retain high levels of organic matter in their
field through continued use of organic manure as compared to other parts of the country to
replenish the nutrient losses through crop removal and erosion. The use of chemical
fertilizers was 7 kg N, 4.5 kg P and, 1.0 kg K per ha, respectively in the state (Unpublished
2001), which was far below the national average. Most of the fertilizer was used in maize
and potato only. Livestock forms an integral part of village life of Sikkim. They rear different
species of animals (Table 3) for draught, milk, and meat purposes and these animals also
provide manure to meet the nutrient requirement of crops. In the mixed farming systems,
nutrient balance depends mainly on the numbers animals, their housing, feeding and
cultural practices. However, balance was also affected by storage and distribution methods,
which should be arranged to minimize losses and the danger of pollution. The production
potential of rural compost in Sikkim is given Annex II. It can be seen from this table that in
Sikkim average rate of compost use is around 7 t/ha of net cultivated area, which is highest
in our country. It is found that the prepared compost contains 1, 0.4 and 1 per cent N, P and
K on dry weight basis, respectively. Thus, the available compost can supply 1354, 541 and

14
1354 tons N, P and K annually to supplement the nutrient requirement of crops. This
amounted almost to 22, 9, and 22 kg NPK per ha net cultivated area, which is very high
availability. However, the use is not similar in all the crops raised, the common pattern of
use of compost is given below.

- Ginger 50%
- Vegetable 15%
- Others 35%

The use patterns and systems of organic manure based specific farming systems are briefed
below.

- Ginger + maize on raised beds

It is the old but reformed system of production, which almost does not use any form of
chemical fertilizer or other chemicals and totally depends on organic sources for production.
It is a cash crop and cultivated on more than 5000 ha area. Cultivation is done on raised
beds. Maize seeds are sown either around the periphery of beds or in the space made
between two beds and whole beds are covered with leaves and twigs of various forest
trees, weeds, grasses available around the field, animal bedding and surplus rich straw as a
mulch amounting 5-20 t/ha on dry basis. In the opinion of farmers, ferns, Eupatorium
odoratum, and animal bedding are best mulch for higher productivity of ginger and seeru
(Cylindrica imperata) and leaves of chilaune (Schima wallichii) are of inferior quality.

The raised beds method of ginger cultivation is sustainable because of recycling of nutrients
through organic manure with no use of agricultural chemicals. Even farmers get more yield
of inter-crop maize compared to sole crop as a result of heavy quantity of manure
application to ginger main crop. Maize also provides shade during the early period of ginger
growth and after harvesting open space favours the development of bolder rhizomes. The
mulch keeps the soil shades and warm, prevents weed infestation, minimizes soil erosion
and protects the young plants from heavy rain. After decomposition manure and mulch not
only meets the needs of growing plants, but also enriched the soil nutrient status (Patiram
et al. 1995). The organic manure and mulch loosen the soil for the proper development of
rhizomes, so farmers prefer organic manuring for ginger cultivation.

- Potato cultivation
Sikkim potato is famous for seed, which is harvested in August-September and reaches the
plains for seed by November. Seed potato growing and marketing is a monopoly of the
Hilley seed potato belt. In this belt farmers prepare the compost by using collected forest
litter and animal bedding along with animal excreta in pits. In the month of December and
January, after the ploughing of field, all the residue of crops and weeds are collected in
heaps and covered with soil. The heaps are burned and residue left after burning spread
over the field. 15 days before sowing of seed potato (January to March), the un-
decomposed portion of the prepared composed are separated and good quality of manure
is heaped near the field. The enriched compost is applied in furrows at the time of potato
seed sowing. Pea is inter-cropped giving the space of 4-5 furrows of potato between each
row to avoid the shading effect.
15
In Lachen and Lachung valleys of North Sikkim, farmers burn the residues openly entirely on
the field and then mixed with the soil by ploughing. The method of sowing is almost same.

- Zero-tillage cultivation of cabbage in Lachung

During the month of April and May, growers cut the grasses, weeds and stubble with sickles
on slopy lands and after drying, burn the same on entire field. Before the planting of
cabbage seedlings, farmers practice shallow digging of field without any input. Growers
used to applying top-dressing of urea after 30 and 60 days of transplanting of cabbage
seedlings as a result of market facility provided by the state government.

- Vegetable cultivation
All the other vegetables (beans, cabbage, cauliflower, pea, radish etc) are based on organic
manuring cultivation. Organic manure is almost fully applied in furrows to get maximum
output with least losses by erosion.

- Relay cropping of rice bean, French bean, pea and soybean with maize
Rice bean is grown as relay crop with maize only at higher altitudes where as soybean is
common cultivated everywhere. Pea and French bean are inter-cropped in small area near
the house. Both crops are inter-cropped in May-June in the standing maize field during the
time of inter culture. After the maturity of maize plants, cobs are harvested leaving the
stalks in the field for the support of inter-cropped rice bean, French bean, and pea,
however, only half stalk is left in case of soybean.

16
 - Legumes in rotation
Rice bean, urd and moong bean are cultivated in rotation after the harvest of maize
everywhere in the mid and low hills of Sikkim. Rice bean is a non-determinative type of
legume, which enriched the soil by adding large amount of foliage and fixed N as compared
to other legumes.

- Homestead gardening (Aganbari)

In Sikkim, it is a common feature especially with Lepcha(s) and Bhutia tribes, house is a field
fenced in with bamboo, fruit and other trees. The complex mixture of trees and annual
crops (food and vegetables) allows the continuous use of land around the house
throughout the year. This garden is only the portion of land which receives animal manure;
it is against the house, under which domestic animals shelter at night; there dung is
collected for compost preparation and residue is getting continuously thrown over the
fence. At the bottom of nearly every garden is a plantation of bamboo, cultivated so as to
have an easily available supply of this invaluable material.

- Other crops
The two main crops maize and rice get lesser amount of nutrient replenishment through
organic manuring (5-10 t/ha). Farmers also apply fertilizer (mainly nitrogen) to maize crop.
The rabi crops (wheat, buckwheat and mustard) in rotation after the harvest of both crops
are raised almost without fertilizer and little amount of organic manure.

Relevance of the technology adopted by the farmers

Most of the cultivated land of Sikkim is terraced /semi terraced and farmers are settled in
their holdings in most of the area. As stated earlier the inhabitants of this mountain state
had realized the importance of slash and burn agriculture to replenish the loss of soil fertility
with abundant availability of land and least population pressure. With the passage of time,
they started settled cultivation on the basis of their traditional wisdom to transform
agriculture based on organic manure and inclusion of legumes in cropping systems to
maintain the sustainability of land. It is practical because of the availability of organic
manure and other resources to the farmers. The soils of the entire north-eastern hill states
are highly deficient in phosphorus (Prasad et al. 1981), whereas 2/3rd soils of Sikkim are
medium to high in availability (Bhutia et al. 1986), as a result of recycling of nutrients
through organic manuring. There is considerable evidence that organic matter reduces the
soluble and exchangeable aluminum by forming Al-organo complexes in soil (Hoyt and
Turner 1975; Ahmad and Tan 1986). The field study conducted on acid-Al toxic soil of Sikkim
revealed that the benefit of fertilizer could be increased by the continuous application of
FYM to each crops without liming (Patiram 1996).

Generally, it is observed that organic manure based farming systems increases the buildup
of soil organic matter, which reduces the erosion, runoff and transport of organic and
inorganic matter to streams and rivers besides improving the physical, chemical and physical
properties of soils from fertility point of view. In addition to highest degree of yield stability,
organic manure can also reduce the pest and disease incidence by increasing species
diversity, promote fungi population to control nematodes, absorb and inactivate pesticides

17
and provide food for marginal pests to decrease their severity (Edwards 1990). The burning
of crop residues and weed (shrubs and herbs) for the cultivation of potato and cabbage
temporarily raise the soil pH, increase the availability of nutrient and decrease the incidence
of insect-pests and diseases (Nye and Green 1960). The leguminous species in inter-crops
and as a sole crop contribute the fixation of N and organic matter is formed by the decay of
leaves and rotting branches and roots, improve the soil productivity through nutrient
recycling in the system.

Blending of indigenous technology with latest scientific techniques

The soils of Sikkim are acidic in reaction and susceptible to various kinds of degradation due
to high rainfall and hill agriculture (Das et al. 1998). The consumption of chemical fertilizers
upto 2002 was below 10 kg/ha and yield of most of the crops are below the national
average production caused by the low level of the adoption of the package of practices and
other biophysical constraints. Sustainable agriculture includes the ongoing production to
maintain equilibrium with the changing demands of a growing population in view of the
problems of removal and environmental degradation. Expensive chemical fertilizers have
made it necessary to maintain livestock to recycle nutrients and build up of organic matter
in soils to get the continuous sustainable production.

The traditional system of agricultural production based on organic manuring, crop residues,
legumes in crop rotation, recycling of nutrients through slash and burn system and others is
keeping pace with the demand of food requirement of the continuously growing population.
It is the only provider of nutrients for crop production and protection against nutrient losses
to the poor and marginal farmers. Large number of experiments all over the country has
proved that integrated use of chemicals, organic and biofertilizers can sustain the crop
productivity and soil health.

Introduction of new crops including wheat, rajmash, rape and mustard; extension of more
areas under high yielding and improved varieties of cereals; increased use of fertilizers and
pesticides and expansion of area under double or multiple cropping have been the
landmarks in converting agriculture into a viable venture from a mere subsistence farming.
The availability of basic infrastructure has aided in enhancing the production and
productivity of crops in the State. In late eighties, the priority was on the development of
horticulture and cash/ commercial crops. These changes are significant indicator of the on-
going process of agricultural transformation from cereal-dominated subsistence agriculture
to high value, cash crop dominated commercial horticulture.

Crop production situation analysis

- Pre-organic conventional period

The traditional cultivars still dominated the cereal cultivation scenario despite the
efforts of the Department of Agriculture, Government of Sikkim. The local and composite
varieties popular earlier have slowly but surely been replaced with hybrids/HYVs. Yet, the
production and productivity trends in Sikkim were much below the regional and national

18
averages and far from inspiring. This could be ascribed to factors such as low use of
fertilizers and timely non-availability of fertilizers and other inputs. The highest consumption
level was in 2002-03 at 21.5 kg/ha was almost double of 12.3 kg/ha in 2000-01. The use of
chemical fertilizers is 12 kg N, 8.5 kg P and, 1.0 kg K per ha, respectively in the state which
was far below the national average (Pradhan, 2004). Most of the fertilizer was used in maize
and potato only.

The crop production scenario of Sikkim during 1998-99 to 2002-03 under conventional
agriculture showed erratic pattern in total food grain production and productivity (Table 4).
The area under food grain production showed a gradual decline from 78070 ha in 1998-99
to 72090 ha in 2002-03 whereas the oilseed producing remained relatively constant at less
than 10000 ha. This perhaps resulted from diversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural
uses. Maize, rice, wheat, finger millet, barley and buckwheat were the main cereals. Acreage
under maize, rice, wheat and finger millet decreased whereas the cropped area of barley
increased marginally and that of buckwheat remained constant between 1998-99 and 2002-
03. The production and productivity of maize was highest during 2000-01 whereas rice,
wheat, finger millet, barley, buckwheat, and urd recorded peak performance during 1999-
00. The total food grain production (103210 MT) and productivity (1357 kg ha-1) was
highest during the year 2000-01. Rapeseed and mustard and soybean were the main oilseed
crops that also recorded best performance during 1999-2000.

Table 4. Area (ha), production (`000 tonnes) and productivity (kg ha-1) of field crops of
Sikkim from 1998-99 to 2003-2004 under conventional agriculture

Crop Particulars 1998-99 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03

Cereals
Maize Area 39.38 39.39 39.90 40.11 36.70
Production 50.80 52.83 59.61 57.01 53.72
Productivity 1289.92 1341.21 1494.00 1421.00 1449.07
Rice Area 15.87 15.91 15.22 14.90 14.79
Production 21.96 23.44 21.36 21.37 21.22
Productivity 1383.20 1473.47 1403.00 1434.00 1434.75
Wheat Area 7.91 8.10 7.21 6.70 6.33
Production 6.42 12.85 10.10 9.93 8.86
Productivity 807.98 1586.39 1400.00 1482.00 1399.68
Finger Area 5.00 4.99 4.56 4.93 4.34
millet Production 4.71 4.71 4.23 4.46 3.74
Productivity 942.62 944.93 928.00 905.00 861.75
Barley Area 1.13 1.14 1.14 1.18 1.23
Production 1.22 1.68 1.21 1.45 1.50
Productivity 1076.99 1471.05 1061.00 1230.00 1219.51
Buckwheat Area 2.00 2.05 1.99 2.01 2.00
Production 1.55 1.59 1.53 1.45 1.54
Productivity 758.77 775.66 769.00 723.00 770.00
Pulses
Urd Area 4.40 4.40 3.78 3.78 3.78
Production 3.05 3.31 2.75 2.71 2.79
19
 Productivity 693.09 752.18 727.00 717.00 738.10
Other pulses Area 2.30 2.31 2.25 2.86 2.90
Production 2.55 2.64 2.442 3.21 3.47
Productivity 1107.00 1141.34 1074.00 1121.00 1196.55
Total Area 78.07 78.29 76.06 76.47 72.09
Food grain Production 92.25 103.05 103.21 101.59 96.33
Productivity 1181.63 1316.27 1357.00 1329.00 1336.25
Oilseeds
Rapeseed Area 5.68 5.76 5.76 5.80 5.88
and mustard Production 2.41 4.16 3.94 4.04 3.95
Productivity 424.74 723.02 684.00 697.00 671.77
Soybean Area 4.02 4.15 4.15 4.15 3.88
Production 2.75 3.41 3.41 3.31 3.14
Productivity 682.98 820.92 822.00 799.00 809.28
Other Area 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.06
oilseeds Production 0.04 0.03 0.03 0.04 0.04
Productivity 500.00 425.00 425.00 500.00 500.00
Total Area 9.78 9.99 9.99 9.99 9.80
oilseeds Production 5.20 7.60 7.38 7.39 7.13
Productivity 531.70 760.76 7.39 740.00 727.55
Source: Pradhan and Avasthe (2005)

Trends in Agricultural Policies

The State is wholly hilly with no plain land. The agro climatic condition ranges from sub-
tropical type in the lower valley to alpine condition in the upper reaches. No single crop or
the variety of crop suits all the elevations. Beginning 1975 the development in agriculture
took a turn where the whole farming approach changed due to the influence of Green
Revolution. Regional concept for the development in agriculture and horticulture was
introduced in the various agro-climatic zones of the State. In order to undertake adaptive
trials, seed production and for the development of package of practices for different crops
suitable to the respective regions Government farms were established.

The uses of chemical fertilizers were popularized using the recommended dose of fertilizers
after evaluating the fertility with the establishment of Soil Testing Laboratory. The use of
chemical fertilizers, chemical pesticides, improved varieties and the increase in cropping
intensity helped to increase the food grain production continuously. Almost all the
agriculture inputs used were distributed free of cost in the form of demonstration models
and as minikits of new varieties in order to popularize the technology. However, in case of
Centrally Sponsored Scheme the programmes were being implemented as per the guide
lines.

After 1995 the area under different crops decreased due to diversification from traditional
crops to low volume high value crops, however, the productivity kept on increasing due to
integrated nutrient management practices in crop production.

20
The farming practices followed in the State are very unique owing to diverse circumstances.
It was found that these practices, coupled with harsh conditions in the mountains could be
leveraged to the advantage of the State to propagate Organic Agriculture. Some of these
practices and hardships are as follows:

HARDSHIPS FACED UNIQUE PRACTICES FOLLOWED

1. Topography of Sikkim presents sloppy
lands with poor soil depth and fragile
eco-system.
2. Most vegetables, food grains and
fodder are imported from the plains.
3. Farming is practiced on terraced type
fields where the soil is sandy to sandy
loam. With the result, leaching losses
are high.
4. There are marginalized land holdings in
the State. Conventional farming cannot
take place effectively in small tracts of
land.
5. In the State, a very fragile environment
exists which needs to be looked after.
1. Most farmers still following traditional
farming practices.
2. For farming to take place, presence of
natural resources like forest, livestock
etc are a must. An ‘integrated system’
approach is carried out instead of
focusing on any single factor.
3. Livestock is maintained for generation
of FYM and mild is a by-product.
4. Very negligible use of chemicals are
being done by the farmers (about 10.26
Kg/ha).

It was found that the above points, coupled with the evils of green revolution automatically
lent support to Organic Agriculture, which could transform these constraints to an
opportunity.

The shift to Organic Farming

When Organic farming was in its nascent stage in India, the leadership in Sikkim not only
propagated the importance of organic farming but also implemented it with full fervor.
Farming systems in Sikkim is traditionally and essentially organic. Before 1994-95, much
effort was made towards chemical fertilizers and their application and farmers were
advocated for use of fertilizers like urea, DAP and MOP for obtaining N:P:K, but due to
topographical variation, rate of adoption, rural social fabrication, and complex set up of
farming community, the use of chemical fertilizers were very low.

The table below depicts the consumption pattern and rate of decline of fertilizer
consumption in the State (Source: fertilizer statistics 1997-98 FAI < New Delhi).

Per hectare Consumption of Fertilizer (N:P:K ) of hill states in India(kg/ha)

States 1986-87 1990-91 1995-96 1996-97 1997-98

Arunachal 0.08 1.79 1.6 2.2 2.2
Pradesh
Assam 4.59 10.18 9.7 14.6 21.9
Himachal 26.56 35.49 30.6 35.5 36.5
Pradesh

21
Manipur 29.95 43.68 43.6 48.6 49.7
Meghalaya 16..49 12.32 11.8 14.4 15.0
Mizoram 0.08 11.19 6.9 3.4 10.2
Nagaland 0.23 5.30 2.4 3.9 4.8
Sikkim 26.01 10.11 8.3 5.9 5.8
Tripura 1.55 20.72 18.4 18.8 29.3

This shows that the fertilizers consumption rate in the State was 26.01 kg per hectare and
was third highest among hill states in 1986-87, this figure was decreased by 5.8 kg per
hectare in the year 1997-98.

Agriculture in Sikkim generally was practiced under low input situations with < 20 and <1
kg/ha fertilizer and plant protection chemicals consumption, respectively in 2002-03
(Pradhan, Y. 2003. Pers. Commun.) Keeping these in mind, the Government of Sikkim made
declaration of the policy to transform Sikkim into a totally “Organic State” by passing a
resolution in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly in 2003, with the intention of cultivating
export-oriented organic crops. A policy for elimination of all forms of chemicals from
agriculture scenario is being implemented to switch the whole agriculture system into
organic employing options such as enriched rural compost, vermicompost, biofertilizers,
green manures and organic amendments/fertilizers (dolomite, rock phosphates) and other
similar sources of nutrition. Capacity building of the farmers on effective utilization of these
options is part of the policy. Crops scenario was dominated by traditional cultivars grown
from time immemorial in Sikkim that did not respond to fertilizer application and deserved
replacement with high yielding varieties for various reasons. Many problems were
associated with the continued use of traditional crop cultivars under low nutrition where
farmyard manure was normally the major nutrient source. This often resulted in unhealthy
plant growth, poor yields accompanied by loss of topsoil. Sub-optimal plant population of
crops grown too was not uncommon in the farmers’ fields. Various agencies of soil erosion
were at work at all times and under poor vegetation cover their impact was considerable.
The cultivation practices did not reveal major variations even where the high yielding
varieties were introduced, however there may be exceptions. While loss in the natural
resource base occurred through geological processes such as landslides and mass wasting
under the influence of certain factors, often the cause was anthropological.

The majority of farming practices in Sikkim could be termed ‘near organic’ or ‘organic by-
default’. In view of the above this the shift to organic was a positive decision since the
conversion period would be small (phasing out of chemical fertilizers etc.) with a rider of the
inability of organic manures in exploiting the inherent yield potential of the recently
introduced improved or high yielding varieties without the organic farming technology in
place. The latter was the challenge as well as the future research thrust area since most of
the agriculture systems were at the subsistence levels, multiple cropping would increase the
cropping intensity and land use efficiency through alternate options such as improved
varieties of crops and technologies, planting fruits, fast growing fodder, fuel and timber tree
species. Crop productivity varied within the farms in the micro-watershed because of
variations in inputs like labour, seeds and quantity and quality of manure. Basic research to
evaluate the minimum requirements of different inputs was warranted. Management of on-
farm production and use of organic compost as required needed immediate attention.

22
In the wake of the State Government decision of converting the agrarian practice of the
State into fully organic, few landmark promotional activities have been carried out by the
Department:

• A concept paper on going towards Organic Farming was prepared in the year
2004 with a road map of its execution.
• The chemical fertilizer consumption was reduced every year by tapering off of
subsidy by 10% on fertilizers. The subsidy is nil from the year 2007-08.
• The Department made a lot of efforts to supplement the nutrient requirements
of the crop plants by organic sources only by adopting various technologies of
recycling the farm wastes like rural composting, vermicomposting, EM
composting, biodynamics, etc., and making the State chemical-free.
• Eight units of Vermi-culture Hatcheries have been established in five
Government Farms and three KVKs of the State from the year 2006-2009.
• Biofertilizer production unit has been established in the state.
• In organic farming, importance is being laid on the improvement of soil health.
Collection of soil for soil testing is mandatory in order to evaluate the fertility
status and the physical properties of soils under organic farming. The State has
four static Soil Testing Laboratory one in each district and two Mobile Soil
Testing Vans.
• For plant protection integrated pest management is being encouraged. Bio-
control agents are being purchased by the Government for disease and pest
control. However, plant protection is the challenge in organic farming. It is
always prevention is better than cure in this system of farming.
• For capacity building the Government is training all the farmers to make
appropriate changes in the package of practices and adoption of better
technologies. The Government is training officers and field functionaries within
the State as well as outside the State. The Extension Officers are being sent to
visit various places where the organic farming is in advance stages.
• After the Establishment of the infrastructure in post-harvest technology, a Seed
Processing Centre at Mazitar and Jorethang, efforts are also being made by the
Department to produce seeds of desired varieties locally to meet the domestic
requirement instead of depending on the outside sources.
• Vermicompost unit having capacity of 50 MT had been established in two
Government farms.
• State Organic Mission (SOM) has been launched in the year 2010 by the Hon’ble
Chief Minister of Sikkim on the occasion of Independence Day for strengthening
Organic process in a holistic manner in the State .

23
 Releasing Sikkim Organic Mission by Hon’ble Chief Minister on 15th Aug.2010

Objectives of the Sikkim Organic Mission

i. To reshape and revamp the Department strategy and implementation of
programme /schemes giving a shape of an Organic module
ii. Sensitization of rural mass and work force through Capacity building programmes
iii. Predetermined size of area of 50,000 hectares of land to be brought under ICS
and organic certification between the years 2010 to 2015
iv. Operationaliztion of livelihood Schools, where each school has enrolled 80
trainees for each trimester (3 month of training programme) to come out as
Service provider for ICS.

A total of 50,000 hectares of land have been targeted to be brought under Internal Control
System (ICS) and Organic Certification to make Sikkim a totally organic state by 2015. The phase
wise targets are 18,000 hectares between the years 2010 to 2013, 18000 hectares between
2011 to 2014, and finally another 14000 hectares of land between 2012 to 2015.

Organic conversion period

Sikkim declared its intention of going ‘organic’ in 2003 strengthening the environmental
protection efforts of the state and taking advantage of the low fertilizer use. The government
also intended to improve the economy of the farmers by marketing the organic products at a
premium.

The Government of Sikkim through Department of Agriculture initiated the process of organic
farming by tapering off the subsidy in chemical fertilizers @ 10 per cent every year since 2003-
04 as the first step. The subsidy was zero from 2007-08. This resulted in drastic decrease in the
consumption of fertilizers in the State. The acreage under food grains remained almost constant
71280 ha in 2003-04 to 70120 ha in 2005-06 but showed a sudden rise in 2006-07 and again a

24
fall in 2007-08 while the area under oilseeds remained stable till 2005-06 and showed fall in the
subsequent year. The fall in area may be attributed to the divergence to developmental work.
The production and productivity of all the crops showed marginal increase during the first two
years of the conversion period and third year showed even better performance. The marginal
increase in the first two years could be attributed to a section of farmers utilizing chemical
fertilizers by the time the infra-structure for organic agriculture was readied. The higher jump in
2005-06 was on the expected lines being the third year of conversion by when the crops tend to
respond better under organic sources of crop management. The increase in productivity of food
grains was 26 and 76.54 kg/ha in 2004-05 and 2005-06, respectively over the previous years
whereas the rise in productivity of oilseeds was 20 and 28 kg/ha in the corresponding periods
(Anonymous, 2008).

Area (‘000 ha), production (`000 tonnes) and productivity (kg/ha) of field crops of Sikkim
from 2003-04 to 2005-06 during ‘organic conversion period’

Crop Particulars 2003-04* 2004-05§ 2005-06§ 2006-07 20007-08

Cereals
Maize Area 36.70 36.71 36.70 40.85 39.10
Production 57.05 58.16 61.10 64.89 62.56
Productivity 1554.50 1585.00 1664.85 1588.49 1600.00
Rice Area 14.74 14.74 14.74 14.15 14.00
Production 21.19 21.61 22.69 21.45 22.85
Productivity 1437.58 1466.00 1539.35 1515.90 1632.14
Wheat Area 5.74 5.74 5.74 6.38 4.45
Production 8.09 8.25 9.20 10.36 4.46
Productivity 1409.41 1437.00 1602.79 1623.82 1002.25
Finger Area 4.15 4.15 4.15 4.14 3.76
millet Production 3.57 3.60 3.78 3.90 3.53
Productivity 860.24 867.00 910.84 942.03 938.83
Barley Area 1.23 1.23 1.23 1.15 0.71
Production 1.51 1.52 1.59 1.27 0.66
Productivity 1227.64 1235.00 1292.68 1104.35 929.57
Buckwheat Area 2.01 2.01 2.01 2.04 2.04
Production 1.55 1.56 1.64 1.79 1.79
Productivity 771.14 776.00 815.92 877.45 877.45
Pulses
Urd Area 3.78 3.78 3.87 3.55 3.55
Production 2.81 2.84 2.98 2.78 3.11
Productivity 743.39 751.32 770.03 783.10 875.21
Other Area 2.93 2.93 2.93 2.41 2.51
pulses Production 3.57 3.60 3.78 2.67 2.78
Productivity 1218.43 1228.66 1290.10 1107.88 1107.57
Total food Area 71.28 71.28 71.37 74.67 70.12
grain Production 99.34 101.17 106.76 109.11 101.74
Productivity 1393.66 1419.33 1495.87 1461.23 1450.90
Oilseeds

25
 Rapeseed Area 6.00 6.00 6.00 5.28 5.00
and Production 4.23 4.28 4.50 4.06 4.32
mustard Productivity 700.00 713.00 750.00 768.84 864.00
Soybean Area 3.89 3.89 3.89 3.69 3.60
Production 3.21 3.25 3.40 3.23 3.15
Productivity 825.19 835.00 874.04 875.33 875.00
Other Area 0.06 0.06 0.06 - -
oilseeds Production 0.03 0.03 0.05 - -
Productivity 500.00 500.00 833.33 -
Total Area 9.95 9.95 9.95 8.97 8.60
oilseeds Production 7.47 7.56 7.95 7.29 7.47
Productivity 750.75 770.00 798.00 812.71 868.60

8000

7000
Total food
6000
grain
5000
Total pulses
4000

3000 Total oilseeds

2000

1000

0
1992-93
1993-94
1994-95
1995-96
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-00
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13

Trends in food grain and oil seed production during last 20 years
The trend of food grain and oil seed production during last 20 years is shown in the table at
annexure I and the histogram is given above. There is a rise in the food grain production
2006-07,
07, during that period farmers were using chemical
chemical fertilizers in combination with
organic sources of nutrients (INM). With the withdrawal of subsidy in chemical fertilizers
and due to divergence of agriculture land o developmental work the production drastically
reduced and thereafter there is a continuous
continuous rise in the production of food grains. Table

Present Soil Health

ealth Status
The evaluation of soil fertility is being done by analyzing the soil sample and the reports
show that with the continuous use of organic sources of nutrient there is improve
improvement in

26
 the soil health. Soil samples collected from different areas which are under the process of
Organic Certification were analyzed for various soil parameters. While comparing the report
for last two years (2011-12 and 2012-13), it was observed that there is an increase in the
various soil parameters continuous use of integrated use of organic sources of nutrients.

The percentage of soils falling under the low range of major nutrient content has reduced
while that in higher range has increased. This showed that the maximum number of soil
samples tested contain high quantity of major nutrients (NPK). The OC content of the
maximum number of soil is high and the pH of the soil has shifted from strongly acidic to
medium range.

FERTILITY STATUS OF SOILS OF SIKKIM

CON- LOW LOW RANGE MEDIUM MEDIUM HIGH HIGH RANGE TOTAL TOTAL
TENT RANGE 2012-13 RANGE RANGE RANGE 2012-13 2011-12 2012-13
2011-12 2011-12 2012-2013 2011-12
N 1508 1109(below 12988 16587(280-560) 1038 3376(above560) 15614 21,072
10.01% 280) 83.18% (78.7%) 6.72% (16.02%)
(5.2%)
P 549 289(below10) 10,333 6103(10-24.6) 4732 14680(above24.6) 15614 21,072
3.21% (1.3%) 66.17% (28.9%) 30.32% (69.6%)
K 1536 235(below 108) 10,837 6247(108-280) 3241 14590(above 280) 15614 21,072
9.83% (1.1%) 69.40% (29.64%) 20.77% (69.2%)
ORGA 178 169(below0.5) 2345 3894(0.5-0.75) 13,082 17009(above 15614 21,072
NIC 1.14% (.80%) 15.07% (18.49%) 83.79% 0.75)
CARBO (80.7%)
N
PH 3145 512(below5) 10,389 16313(5-6) 2080 4247(above 6) 15614 21,072
20.14% (2.4%) 66.53% (77.4%) 13.33% (20.14%)

Graphical Representation of Soil Fertility

Status of Sikkim 2012-13
90.00%
80.00%
70.00%
Fertility Status

60.00%
50.00%
40.00% LOW
30.00% MEDIUM
20.00% HIGH
10.00%
0.00%
pH Org.Carbon Nitrogen Phosphorous Potassium
Parameter

27
ACTIVITIES TOWARDS CONVERSION TO ORGANIC SYSTEMS

VERMI COMPOST PRODUCED BY FARMERS VERMI COMPOST UNIT

RURAL COMPOST UNIT LOW COST VERMI-COMPOST UNIT

AZOLLA POND EM TECHNOLOGY

28
CROP DIVERSIFICATION

Overview
Majority of the agriculture in Sikkim is of subsistence type mainly in the case of food grains.
Farmers prefer traditional varieties of crops as these are adapted to the region and superior
in quality and taste. The crops are grown with traditional organic practices but farmers are
now adopting improved technologies in organic farming systems. The local produce is not
able to meet the requirements of the State so major food grains are supplied from outside
the State. The potential crops for organic farming system are ginger, large cardamom,
turmeric, Sikkim mandarin, blackgram, buckwheat and baby/sweet corn. Recently Sikkim
has gained prominence as an organic State and as a pioneer in organic farming in the
country. It is also a biodiversity hotspot of the Eastern Himalayas in which various
germplasm of agri horti and floricultural crops is available. The organic produce can fetch
premium price in the local market and outside also. In general the productivity of the crops
is low as compared to the national average. In food grain crops maximum area is covered
under maize, it is sown in pre-kharif season starting from February to mid March. However,
its productivity is quite low (1681 kg/ha) as compared to the national average (2250 kg/ha).
Rice is the next major crop after maize, grown in kharif season. The productivity of rice also
follows the same trend like maize. The average productivity of rice in Sikkim is 1757 kg/ha
which is low as compared to national average of 2125 kg/ha. The similar yield trend is also
observed with other food grain crops. The basic reasons behind the lower productivity of
crops are abiotic factors like low photoperiod, aberrant weather, low soil fertility and low
adoption rate of agricultural technologies. Local cultivars are still very popular among the
farmers due to their quality characters and superiority. Ragi and barley are grown for
brewery purpose as these local drinks are very popular among the ethnic people. Soybean is
consumed as a fermented product. Local urad bean (pahelo dal) is very popular and covers
maximum area under pulse crops. Rajmash has gained popularity as dry pulse and its area is
expanding. Rice bean and lentil is grown on a very small area in the State. During rabi
season, rapeseed is grown by the farmers but the area is decreasing due to moisture stress
and the alternative buckwheat has gained popularity and the area under the crop is
increasing.

Agriculture in the state is marred with the natural calamities, low intensity agri-inputs and
negligible seed/variety replacement rate, geo-physical conditions, limit horizontal expansion
of cultivable land, domination of a single crop, vulnerable to risk and low level of
productivity, prevalence of traditional agricultural practices, agricultural diversification of
crops, livestock-fish and silk exist in the region, but their contribution to economic
development is negligible. Degradation of prime agricultural land, over-dependence on
monsoonal rains with poor irrigation infrastructure, negligible agro-processing and post-
harvest management, poor transport and market infrastructure, remoteness of the region,
high rainfall, soil erosion and high rate of leaching of nutrients, heavy infestation of weeds,
insect-pests and diseases, lack of awareness about the potential of commercial
horticultural crops, lack of need based research as sustainable agricultural system/silvi-
horti-pastoral system is the need of the hour and weak data base etc are factors responsible
for sluggish growth pattern and low-yielding agriculture in the region depict extremely grim
future.

29
Patterns of agricultural diversification in Sikkim
Sikkim Himalaya represents a hotspot in agro-biodiversity. Here, agricultural diversification
is slowly gaining momentum in favour of high-value food commodities primarily to augment
income rather than the traditional concept of risk management. The nature of
diversification differs across regions due to existence of wide heterogeneity in agro-climatic
and socio-economic environments. It was considered interesting to delineate the key
regions and sub-sectors of agriculture where diversification was catching up fast. Crops,
livestock, and forestry constitute the core sectors of agriculture. The crop sector is the
principal income-generating source in agriculture followed by the livestock sector. It
depicted a steady diversification with replacement of food-grain crops with non food-grain
crops. Several non-food-grain crops such as fruits, vegetables, and medicines have
substituted mainly coarse cereals in the farmers’ pursuit for higher income. The
government-supported programmes had promoted the cultivation of fruits and vegetables.
Among others, watershed programmes had facilitated conservation of rainwater and gave
higher priority to the cultivation of fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables have been
the traditional route for agricultural diversification in the Sikkim Himalayan Region,
whereas, fruit cultivation has been adopted in a big way in the temperate belt and the same
does not appear to enjoy any comparative advantage in non-temperate belt. Moreover, the
fruits being grown in the non-temperate belt are losing market to substitute fruits grown in
the plains. Within horticulture, diversification through off-season vegetables seems to
possess great potential in most of the areas in both temperate and non-temperate belts of
the Sikkim Himalayan Region. Climatic conditions in many parts of the Sikkim Himalaya are
suitable to produce crops like tomato, peas, beans, cabbage, and capsicum. The price
advantage makes it worthwhile to incur high production cost and transport off-season
vegetables to distant consumer markets. There are many small pockets, which have attained
economic progress by diversification through off season vegetables cultivation.

Spatio-temporal factors in state and agricultural diversification

Spatio-temporal factors have a great impact on the agricultural diversification in the Sikkim
Himalaya. On the other hand, diversity of crops varies according to altitude and the cropping
seasons. Generally, crops are grown in all three altitudinal zones - valleys, mid-altitudes, and
the highlands and in the two cropping seasons - rabi and kharif. Highest diversity of crops is
found in the highland during the kharif season. The highlands produce traditional
subsistence crops It is further characterized by the vertical distribution of crops – lower
altitude, mid-altitudes and highlands, and alpine area.

Crop diversification is important for sustainable economic growth. As economy grows, there
is a gradual movement out of subsistence food-crop production to a diversified market-
oriented production system. The process of diversification out of staple-food production is
triggered by rapid technological change in agricultural production, by improved rural
infrastructure, and by diversification in food-demand patterns. Indeed, diversification away
from rice, maize to high-value crops such as fruits, vegetables and flowers has been
successful in many countries, although quality and timely production are usually crucial to
economic success with such high-value crops. Horticultural crops occupy a substantial
portion of area and contribute more than 25-30% of the gross value of agricultural output of

30
the country. Fruits and vegetables are important sources of minerals and vitamins and
provide a part of the calorie requirement in the daily diet of the people. They also provide
most of the food roughage, which contributes to the prevention of disorders of the digestive
system. The nutritional status of diet is on a declining trend due to low intake of vegetables,
fruits and spices. The increased production and intake of vegetables by the people will help
compensate for debilitating nutritional deficiencies.

Traditional horticulture production systems of Sikkim are inefficient resulting in low yields,
poor product quality and low profits. The crop diversification in horticulture will improve
land use, generate employment and provide nutritional security to people. The integrated
development of organic horticulture in Sikkim is required for sustainable growth of the
region. The economically desirable crop intensification and diversification can increase the
production of fruits and vegetables by introducing the suitable cultivars and development of
package and practices. The diversification of cropping systems shall make better and more
secure use of available land, water, labor, and other resources, thus reducing the risk for
income generation. In addition diversification can provide, through high-value crops,
opportunities to diversify diets through local consumption as well as increase local income.
Horticultural crop diversification has the following distinct advantage over the traditional
agricultural crops:

• Horticultural crops are mostly perennial in nature and offer larger bio-mass
production per unit area.
• Horticultural crops and their value added products have high potentiality for export
and give more economic returns per unit area.
• Horticultural crop diversification enables productive and economic utilization of
cultivable wasteland.
• Horticultural crops efficiently checks soil erosion and maintain ecological balance.
• Generates rural employment opportunities.

Diversification in Fruit Crops

The important fruits grown in the state include Sikkim mandarin, pear, guava and other new
introductions like kiwi, Asiatic varieties of pear, papaya and banana as filler crops in lower
altitudes. Apple cultivation was a traditional practice in some pockets of North Sikkim, which
dwindled after decline hit the orchards during the late seventies. With the introduction of
European cultivars, apple growing is on upswing and the interest has been rekindled
amongst farmers. Sikkim mandarin is the traditional fruit of the State which has made major
progress in terms of area coverage and production. The new concept of high density
orchards in guava is becoming popular amongst farmers. The high density planting is highly
suitable in Sikkim where land is limited and even small and marginal farmers can allocate
certain portion of their land for cultivation of guava. Banana and papaya as filler crops are
very advantageous as they give very quick returns and hence their popularity is ever
growing. Litchi and kiwi are other two fruits which have vast potential in lower and upper
belts of the State, respectively. Delayed ripening of litchi due to climate is a great
advantage, fruits coming to market one month after the main litchi season, commanding
good price. This provides ample scope for area expansion under litchi in all suitable belts.
State horticulture department and ICAR are working in close collaboration for the
31
diversification of fruit crops. ICAR Sikkim Centre has collected germplasm of various fruit
crops viz. apple (14), almond (08), plum (03), walnut (02), apricot (01), pecan nut (01),
persimmon (01) & pomegranate (01) and planted in ICAR Sikkim Centre in order to establish
the ‘Field Gene Bank of Fruit Crops’ and their further evaluation for suitability in Sikkim
conditions.

Diversification in Vegetable Crops

The ultimate objective of the vegetables crop diversification is to provide small vegetable
producers of the region with superior and high yielding varieties and promotion of offseason
vegetable production for better returns. The vegetable farming varies from the valley
regions to the mid-altitudes and the highlands according to terrain, slope, soil contents, and
availability of water. The diversification of vegetable crops should be divided into vertical
zones according to the altitude. Potato should be the main vegetable of the highlands,
which can grow well between 1500 to 2200 m. It is mostly grown on the gentle slope of the
mid-altitudes and the highlands. Along with potato, the other vegetables and spices such as
beans, cucumber, pumpkin, ginger, turmeric, and chilli are also grown in this zone. These
vegetables are mostly locally consumed.

Sikkim provides a great scope for production of off-season vegetables. Off-season

vegetables include tomato, cabbage and cauliflower. Tomato is grown both as greenhouse
and open crop throughout. The state horticulture department encourages production of
vegetables comprising of cabbage, cauliflower, radish, carrot and broccoli in the higher
reaches during off-season. In some pockets in higher reaches, it is common practice to
intercrop potato and pea or maize, pea, cabbage and ginger. Summer vegetables comprise
of many types of gourds, cucumber, egg plant and okra. ICAR has evaluated 13 varieties of
Okra and recommended open pollinated varieties for cultivation so that farmers can keep
their own seeds for next season.

ICAR Sikkim Centre has also collected 80 different accessions of Chayote and evaluation
studies are going on for various morphological and biochemical parameters. Besides, Red
Cherry pepper and cherry tomato are other important crops of the region. ICAR has also
standardized the production technology of offseason vegetables viz. coriander, carrot, beet
root, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, pakchoi etc. under low cost plastic tunnels. The
most critical intervention to promote vegetable cultivation in the State has been the use of
improved seeds, better quality organic inputs and educating the farmers about production
timing to coincide with peak market demands.

32
Agro-climatic Zones of Sikkim and Suitability of Horticultural Crops

Agro-climatic Areas Crops

zones
Temperate zone Gnathang, Tsomgo, Fruits: Apple, pear, peaches, plums,
Sherathang, Zema, Zema, cherries, pistachio, almond, apricot,
Zuluk, Lachung, Lachen, and walnut, chestnut and kiwifruit.
Hilley, Vegetables: Cabbage, cauliflower, knol-
khol, broccoli, radish, turnip, beetroot,
carrot, garlic, onion, spinach,
cucumber, tomato, brinjal, okra, French
bean, asparagus, bean, capsicum and
peas.
Ornamentals: Rose, gladiolus, orchids,
torch lily, marigold etc.
Mid hill temperate Namchi, Gyalzing, Rongli, Fruits: Mango, guava, citrus, litchi, low
zone Rhenok, Mangan, chilling peaches, pears, plums, almond,
Chungthang, Uttare, Yuksam aonla etc.
and Gangtok Vegetables: Brinjal, tomato, okra,
beans,peas, all cucurbits, carrot, radish,
turnip, cole crops, leafy vegetables,
onion, garlic, chillies and capsicum etc.
Tuber crops: Potato, sweet potato,
Colocasia, yams, alocasia.
Ornamentals: Rose, Jasmine, gladiolus,
chrysanthemum, tuberose, carnation,
orchids, marigold, petunia, large
number of other ornamentals and
foliage plants.
Tropical zone Rangpo area of East district Fruits: Citrus, banana, pineapple,
papaya, grape, sapota, jackfruits.
Vegetables: Brinjal, tomato, okra,
beans, gourds, amaranthus etc.
Tuber crops: Cassava, sweet potato,
amorphophallus, dioscorea, yams,
Colocasia etc.
Plantation crops: Coconut, arecanut,
cashew, oilpalm, rubber, cocoa, tea.
Spices: Turmeric, ginger, large
cardamom, pepper etc.
Ornamentals: Rose, marigold,
chrysanthemum, jasmine, zinnia,
balsum, orchids.

33
Use of land under food crops by cash crops –
A Case Study in Sikkim Himalayas

Sikkim hills has well established farming system and is considered as one of the unique
farming systems that has evolved through series of experiments and the trial by the
farmers, scientists and other stakeholders. A perfect land use and agroforestry systems can
be seen across the Himalayan state. Sikkim Himalayas witness unique system of rice
cultivation. The extensive bund terracing of the slopes and submerged cultivation of rice
during kharif season is seen as one of the major farming system. Many agronomical and
economical advantages can be visualized with this type of farming system. The typical rice
fields were developed by farmers considering the availability of water, light and other
resources. Of late, there has been tremendous diversification in cropping system due to
various reasons and issues.

Cultivation of large cardamom, broom grass, Banana in rice field

Irrigated wetland, typical terraces developed for rice cultivation across the slope, known as
Dhan Kheti spread to almost 15000 hectare in the state. Several local germplasm or local
varieties dominates the rice growing scenario in the state. The local varieties such as Attey,
Kanchi Attey, Chirakey, Krishna bhog, Dut-Kati, Mansure, Kalo Nunia occupies more than
50% area. The palatability acceptance of these varieties is more amongst the people. The
straw yield of these varieties is much higher than the hybrid ones, which sustains the cattle
rearing even during the winter (lean period for fodder availability). Of late, area under rice
cultivation is in decreasing trends due to various factors particularly the cultivation of cash
crops. The trend in conversion of rice field into high value crops like large cardamom,
banana, citrus, papaya etc. is in rise at the cost of food production.

Rice cultivation in terraced field

34
Major constraints for diversification
a. Acute shortage of farm labourers:
With the ever increasing development in the non-farm sectors, there has been a
rapid shift in people’s occupations. As revealed from the people’s appraisals, more
than 75% of the farmers engaged in rice cultivation are above the age of 50 years.
Young are not attracted to the rice cultivation owing to low returns and labour
intensive. Acute shortage of farm labourers, rise in daily wages of the labourer and
their low efficiencies for different operations of rice cultivation significantly
contributes to rise in cost of cultivation of rice, thereby reducing the net return.

b. Untimely rainfall and recharge of springs

Large areas of rice are rainfed with only about 20% of the rice field or pani kheti
having assured irrigation. Farmers are dependent upon the small springs and rivulets
for water or irrigation. Farmers have observed that the springs are not being
recharged due to irregularity of rainfall and various geological factors. There have
been frequent reports of crop failure due to scanty rainfall during the early period of
crops.

c. Crop diversification to avoid post harvest losses

A good example of crop diversification has been seen at Lachung valley in North
Sikkim, which is popular for commercial cabbage cultivation. During the rainy season
Lachung experience frequent road blockage and owing to highly perishable nature of
cabbage, farmers incurred heavy loss time to time. In search of alternatives, with the
intervention of Food Security and Agriculture Development Department has
encouraged rajma cultivation. Rajma being less perishable, highly adaptable to the
valley, highly profitable than cabbage, less nutrient exhaustive is best suited to the
system. Presently, entire valley has now started Rajmash cultivation diversifying
from cabbage. Rajma cultivation has now been taken up in other parts of the state
diversifying specially the maize growing areas.

d. Crop diversification to avoid wild animals

Besides the well terraced rice fields, Sukha bari or a dry field is special land for
cultivation of maize during the Kharif season (March- June/July) rotated with potato,
vegetables, mustard, buckwheat, millet (intercropping), pulses and soybean
depending upon the altitudinal variation.

In many parts of the state, these crops experience severe damage due to wild life.
Wild boar, porcupine and monkesy are the major wild animals damaging the crops.
Wild boar and porcupine damages are severe at high altitude afecting crops like

35
 potato and maize and monkeys are a major threat damaging the fruit crops, maize
and other agricultural crops at mid hills and low hills.

There have been trends of diversification of crops cultivation like maize to avoid
these wild animals. People have started cultivation of Red Cherry pepper and
turmeric the high valued crops that are not damaged by monkeys.

e. Crop Diversity for high return per unit area

Sikkim hills endowed with varied climatic conditions are most congenial for
cultivation of horticulture crops. Traditional crops like maize and millet at higher
ridges are now diversified and off season vegetables cultivation viz., cabbage,
cauliflower, carrot, radish etc. are being cultivated.
Protected cultivation of flowers and vegetables being highly remunerative are good
options.

Conversion of paddy field to cardamom at Hee-Gyathang

Plantation of Broom grass in paddy field

36
 New plantation of cardamom in paddy field

Banana plantation in terraced ricefield

Cultivation of cherry pepper to avoid wild animals -a remunerative crop

37
 Off season vegetable cultivation

Protected cultivation: numbers of greenhouses constructed in paddy fields

38
Climate change impact on agro-diversity in the Sikkim Himalaya
Observed indicators and people’s perceptions and adaptation

Climate change
Empirical studies on temperature and rainfall trends from 1981-2010 at Tadong area (1350
m) revealed that the mean minimum temperature has increased by 1.95 °C while mean
maximum temperature did not exhibit any significant departure from long term averages.
The rainfall over the 30 year period increased by 124 mm while rainy days decreased by
14.40 days and total rainfall by 355 mm (Rahman et al. 2012). Observation of Seetharam
(2012) carried out at Gangtok area (1765 m) reported that both mean minimum and
maximum temperatures between 1961 and 1990 compared to period between 1951-1980
decreased, while rainfall also decreased between 1960 and 1990. Therefore, these
indicators have shown that there in an increasing evidence of climate changing in the
Himalayan altitudes especially in the sub-tropical to temperate belts which has impacts of
agrobiodiversity. This observation has been also indicated by the studies carried out by
Chaudhary and Bawa (2011).

30

28
y = 0.008x + 23.23
26
R² = 0.011
24

22

20
Temperature (Min) Temperature (Max) y = 0.088x + 13.59
18 R² = 0.582
16

14

12

10
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Figure 1. Trend of annual average maximum and minimum temperature over the last 20 years in
Sikkim (Data: Rahman et al. 2012).

39
 80
78
76
y = -0.017x + 71.78
74 R² = 0.003
72
70
68
66
64
62
60
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Figure 2. Trend of number of rainy days over the last 20 years in Sikkim (Source: Rahman et al.
2012).
Climate change impacts agrodiversity of Sikkim
There is a growing need to carryout empirical studies on the growth and yield responses
of important cereal and cash crops. It is equally important to identify suitable and
appropriate land use options for diversity for adaptive crops to sustain crop productivity
under the increasing variations of climate along the altitudes. Extreme variation such as
frequent flash floods and cloud bursts in Sikkim in the last 5 years, especially during
monsoon seasons, droughts and prolonged dry period during winter and post winter
seasons have utterly altered the traditional annual calendar of cereal crops, fodder
crops, horticultural crops, which has eventually resulted into increase in farm
investment to farmers.

Over the last several years (1980- onwards) the farmers of Sikkim have observed subtle
fluctuation of weather conditions more pronounced during the critical phase of crop
season. Such fluctuations have influenced and impacted on the productivity of crops,
harvests, and post-harvest storage. The harvest season of paddy in Sikkim has always
been impacted by post-monsoon rains called the “Kattiky Jhari” thus damaging the
crops.

Climate change impacts on Trans-Himalayan agropastoralism and sub-alpine

agriculture
In high altitude areas (4000−5500 m), yak, sheep and goat rearing symbolically
integrates with the socio-cultural life of the indigenous communities and contributes to
socio-ecological adaptability to changing climatic conditions. The climate change impacts
in the Trans-Himalayan areas have been felt in the last 10 years with the shift of snowfall
events and time. The herders have realized the increased summer temperatures
followed by decline of snowfall. Elderly farmers remarked that 20 years ago at Thanggu,
snow fall events use to be continuous for a week to 15 days. In the last five years
dramatic changes have been realized at Thanggu (3900m), snowfall events are untimely,
occasional snowfall takes place that lasts for one to two days only. Herders recount that
more than 10 feet snowfall was natural at Thanggu, Bamzey and Dambong (4000−4700
m) 15−20 years ago. In the last 5-8 years (2000-2010) the total snowfall in these areas
has declined almost by 40%. At Thanggu area, first snowfalls were observed normally by

40
the end of October about 15 years ago. Now snowfall begins only by the first or second
week of November showing a shift by 15−20 days. Unusual and unZmely snowfall has
severely impacted the life and livelihood of the Dokpas (high altitude herders). This has
impacted significantly on the fodder productivity for the livestock. Rangeland
degradation, frequent landslides/mudslides, flooding, avalanches during winter,
reduction of pastures are commonly observed in the Trans-Himalayan and alpine areas.
These unusual natural events such as avalanches are threats to yaks, goats and sheep
and also to herders.

Similarly, seasonal shift of snowfall events and untimely snowfall has impacted greatly to
Trans-Himalayan subsistence agriculture. As a consequence the Dokpa, nomadic movers
with yaks, goats and sheeps and even horses seasonally depending upon the availability
of grazing pastures. In Muguthang (5000 m) and in the Lhonak valley, they have
gradually shifted to a sedentary lifestyle. Diversification of agriculture crops and
permanent establishments are now observed at Muguthang. During 1995−96 there was
a serious outbreak of disease and heavy snowfall that killed a large number of sheeps.
After this event, sheep rearing is now completely abandoned in Lhonak Valley by
Dzumsa of Lachen. The local people have observed that species are migrating with rise in
altitudes in Sikkim. The National Biodiversity strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP 2002) for
Sikkim has reported that mosquitoes are appearing in Lhonak valley well above 5000 m
while house crows are spread in Lachung where they were uncommon earlier.

Climate change impacts in the temperate and Sub-tropical agro-climatic zones

The Sikkim Himalayan agriculture systems are comprised of ecosystem diversity mainly
dependent of micro-climatic and biophysical factors in exceptionally fragile with
undulating topography. Climate change events observed and recorded here have given
rise to mudslides in terrace risers (in khet and bari systems), productivity decline of
crops (e.g. cardamom, ginger, orange, rice, maize, wheat, buckwheat etc.) resulting into
emerging food insecurity in the mountain region (mainly to those farmers living in highly
inaccessible areas). Farmers remarked that the sowing of maize at the sub-tropical zone
has shifted by 15−20 days while sowing at temperate zones remains the same. Uniquely,
the harvest of maize is perfectly same in the sub-tropical zone while harvest time has
shortened by 15−20 days in temperate zones. InformaZon on temperature rise and
untimely rainfall and their impact on agriculture have been univocally reported by the
farmers of the Sikkim Himalayas.

The extreme climatic conditions such as long dry spells, emergence of viral diseases such
as Chirkey, Furkey and fungal disease Colletotrichum blight have contributed to large
cardamom plantation and productivity decline. The Collectrotrichum disease appears in
the advent of pre-monsoon showers (April−May) and progresses rapidly during the rainy
season (June−August). The a[ected area becomes necroZc and dry out. This disease is
causing severe crop plantation loss over the recent years. Most of the commonly found
cultivars of cardamom are susceptible to this disease (Sharma and Rai 2012).

Mitigating climate change with multipurpose agro-forestry species

To meet the fodder requirement farmers harvest fodder tree branches during winter
season when ground grass is not available which largely supplement the animal feed.
Due to untimely rainfall the fodder production has been reduced with stunted growth of
branches. This is followed by wide emergence of pests eating up the green foliage of

41
trees (Table 1). The impact of climate change due to untimely precipitation has been
dramatic to the phenology of fodder species of both subtropical and temperate agro-
climatic zones. One highly preferred fodder tree Ficus lacor (locally called Rato Kabro,
Seto Kabro) is showing up with budding and growing foliage in November, while the
natural season of new foliage emergence is February end. This is a highly preferred
fodder species for milking cows.

Farmers have reported that invasive alien species such as Chromolina adenophorum,
Epatorium odoratum, Bidens biternata, Artemisia nilgirica, Lantana camara, Ageratum
conyzoides, Cestrum auranticum, C. fasciculatum, and Galingosa parviflora have caused
serious problems in the farmlands, forests, traditional agroforestry systems, fallow
lands, croplands and wetlands. These invasive species are fast colonizing and have been
spread from sub-tropical to temperate agro-climatic region causing productivity decline
in the last 10 years. Regular field survey and observation revealed that rapid spread of
alien species Artemisia nilgirica, Bidens biternata, Eupatorium adenophorum, E.
odoratum etc. have resulted into decline of daily requirement of grasses, thatches,
firewoods, timber, etc. while damage to nearby forest areas has allowed the wild
animals to invade croplands. In the croplands, clearing invasive species involves heavy
labour input on land preparation for cultivation and management.

Table 5. Some observations in agriculture crops

Crops Indicators of change

Cereals Several traditional varieties of rice disappeared from the systems such
and pulses as Punaro Kanchi Attey, Kagey Tulasi, Thulo Attey, Ghaiyya Dhan, Sanu
Tulashi, Seto Tulashi, Thulo Marshi, Tauli Dhan, Baghey Tulashi. The
roots are infected by termites when the rice is in fruiting stage. In
maize Pest infestation, Kalipokey not seen in maize in last 10 years. In
the subtropical belts ginger cannot be cultivated due to stem rot and
blights.

Large The major threats to large cardamom have been the spread of fungal
cardamom disease Colletotrichum blight that appears in the advent of pre-
monsoon showers (April-May) and progresses rapidly during the rainy
season (June-August).
The emergence viral diseases commonly called chirke and foorkey
disease since early eighties have drastically reduced the production
(60%) and plantation area (almost 50%).

Ginger The biggest challenge for ginger cultivation has been to control the soil
borne diseases, soft rot, dry rot, bacterial wilt and so on. At the same
time production of enough manure, manpower for cultivation, and
marketing at the time when market fetches high price are other
challenges.

42
Chayote Shrinking leaves, blights etc. has been observed in the last five years

Broom Broom grass is a multipurpose agroforestry species in the mountain

grass farming system all along the Himalayas. In the last 10 year this grass
has developed yellowing of leaves and leaf blights. During winter
especially after October the broom grass bushes develop this disease
and dry out. Thus, this fodder species remains non palatable to farm
animals.

Orange Recently, the productivity was recorded to be drastically declined after

2008 owing to weak management of utterly old plantations (old trees)
and diseased trees where potential fruit bearing potency is lost. In
addition to this, the old plantations have lost the vigor and majority of
them are reeling under viral and other disease infestations.

Fodder In the recent years farmers have witnessed that tree fodder production
species has significantly declined. One of the reasons is pests eating up all the
leaves before they mature for harvesting especially during lean season.
Some of these preferred trees are Artocarpus lakoocha (Badar), Ficus
cunia (Khasreto), Ficus benghlensis (Pate Bar), Ficus ruxborgii (Nibaro),
Ficus lacor (Kabro), Ficus semicordata (Khanew), Ficus hispida
(Khasreto), Morus alba (Kimbo), Bauhinia ascicula (Koiralo), Ficus hirta
(Khasre Khanew), Ficus clavata (Lute Khanew), Bauhinia purpurea
(Tanki), Litsea monopetala (Kutmero), Saurauia rosburgii (Auley gogun),
(Chuletro), Ficus nemoralis (Dudilo), Saurauia asciculate (Gogun), S.
griffithi (Tatey gogun), S. nepaulensis (gogun), S. punduana (Auley
gogun),

Common Colonization of invasive species the common fodder species such as

grass Digitaria sanguinalis (Ghogey Banso), Paspalum conjugatum (Chitre
fodder Bnaso), Panicum repens (Phurkey), Thysanolena agrostis (Amliso) are
declining declining.

Emergence Some of the common weeds of maize are Eleusine indica, Setaria
of weeds galuca etc. Similarly, common weeds for rice are Cyperus eragrotis,
in Hydrodoctyle helplansis, Paspalum pasploides, Echinocloa crusgalli,
cultivated Echinocloa colonum, Cyperus rotundus, Cynodon dactylon, Ageratum
farms conyziodes etc. The common weeds for wheat are Chenopodium
album, Amaranthus sp., Cynodon dactylon, Polygonum capitata etc.
The most common weeds are Echinocloa crusgalli, Echinocloa colonum,
Cyperus rotandus, Cynodon dactylon, Ageratum conyziozes etc. Potato
and mustard are common winter crops. They are mostly infested by
common weeds such as Polygonum capitata, Cyperus rotandus,

43
 Cyperus iria, Cynodon dactylon, Drymaria cordata, Spilanthus
paniculata, Sida rhimbifolia, Gnaphalium affine etc.

In recent years large scale colonization of palatable and unpalatable species has been
observed by the farmers in the temperate zones. In the open meadows at one side of
Jaubari area along the Singalila range colonization of unpalatable species such as
Gnaphalium sp. etc. has been significantly increasing while at the other side the entire
areas is now covered by single palatable species Iris sp. The floral diversity of the ground
has been severely declined by these species. Some naturalized exotics such as Ageratum
houstonianum, Erigeron karvinskianus, Galinasoga parviflora, Erichthites valarianiifolia
and Gleolaria maxicana has been observed profusely colonizing.

Water scarcity due to drying springs is increasing in the mountains of Sikkim and local
marginal and low income group farmers are the last sufferers

44
Coconut and areca nut can be grown at Tareythang at 800 m

Adaptive practices to conserve agriculture biodiversity

The traditional agroforesty such as large cardamom-based, mandarin orange-based,
farm-based, forest-based systems of Sikkim Himalayan region are integrated agro-
ecosystems, comprising of multipurpose trees, shrubs and fruit trees, non-timber-forest
produce, with annual crop production. They are managed age-old management systems
operated by farmers to provide shade, regular supply of food, fodder, fuel-wood and
timber, reduce soil degradation, maintain soil fertility and moisture, diversity of income
sources, and provide regular employment to farmers. Conservation of agroforestry in
the cultivated systems will improve the resilience of farming systems and enhance
livelihood strategies of small holder farmers to current climate variability as well as long-
term climate change, through the increased use of trees for intensification,
diversification and buffering of farming systems.
The local and indigenous communities of in the sub-tropical and warm temperate belts
of Sikkim have invariably responded to changing climate and the associated scarcity of
water resources. The main adaptation measures they have initiated over the years are
viz., (1) irrigation of crops on rotational basis; (2) introduction and planting of drought
tolerant varieties like yams, finger millets, pulses and beans, sweet potatoes, cassava,
colocasia, dioscorea etc.; 3) introduction and plantation of early maturing varieties of
maize and beans, introduction of floriculture within the system for economic security;
(4) development of agro-forestry systems for enhanced production of fodder and timber
and improvement of livestock farming; (5) shared and/or selective cropping to suitable
farm locations depending upon the heterogeneity of land use pattern; (6) soil fertility
maintenance through bio-compost and manure production in farms; and (7) community
education through ex-tension service.
In a situation of growing organic concept in Sikkim and the target of Sikkim government
to convert the state fully organic by 2015, the disease management in agro-ecosystem
has becomes a challenge. To a greater extent, farmers have rich traditional knowledge
to develop bio-pesticides, use of plant antagonistic plants etc. to mitigate diseases and
pests, while some of such efforts are futile to cardamom, orange and ginger crops. Given
the fact that that, there is decreased amount of rainfall during the last few decades, and
the longer dry seasons and shorter growing season, the lowered incomes due to
increased incidences of pests and diseases will further compound the livelihood

45
 insecurity in the region. For livestock, the maid adaptation to weather-dependent
animal diseases was reported to be through vaccination of the animals.

Critical issues related to agro-diversity

The Sikkim Himalayan agro-ecosystems are experiencing different level of climatic
variation over several decades in the form of erratic rainfall events, prolonged droughts,
emergence new diseases and pests in crops and in fodder trees and associated plants
etc. and are expected to persist these changes in future. However, these ecosystems are
resistant due to their high level of adaptive capacity. An example is that large cardamom
in the traditional agroforestry systems is at a rapid declining phase in the last 10 years
while cultivation of broom grass, fodder tees, medicinal plants or cultivation of ginger
have replaced the system in the last 5-10 years. The agro-ecosystems are subjected to
anthropogenic pressures such as rapid land use change (development activities such as
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana for road construction, Hydropower construction,
establishment of Pharmaceutical industries etc.), introduction of exotic crop varieties
(High yielding varieties/hybrids of rice, maize, wheat, pulses, fruits such as kiwi,
medicinal plants such as Korean Ginseng etc.) thus increasing fragmentation and
degradation of natural habitat of indigenous species. Thus, such human induced
pressures are resulting into progressive loss of agro-biodiversity. Land races of rice,
maize, pulses, finger millet, yams, pumpkin, are rapidly disappearing due to climate
change impacts from the traditional farming systems.

Sikkim Himalayan Agro-ecosystems along the gradients of altitudes are most vulnerable
to climate change are those already affected by unsustainable management, and land
and resource degradation. Trees have an important role in reducing vulnerability,
increasing resilience of farming systems and buffering households against climate
related risks.

It is evident that the impact of climate change has been witnessed in the Sikkim
Himalayan Agriculture Systems. The mountain farmers have been applying the
traditional technologies to adapt in the changing situations at temporal and spatial
scales. These mitigation measures need scientific and technical support through
appropriate policies and investments. The farming systems play key roles in ecosystem
functions and services in addition to conservation of biodiversity as they are situated
between wilder biodiversity landscapes and cultivated systems.

In a situation where climate change has been univocally regarded phenomenon, there is
a need to strategize the appropriate investment mechanism, however to maintain soil
fertility and water use efficiency in days to come. Therefore, this calls for development
of a multidisciplinary evaluation approach. Traditional farming systems need to be
strengthened to achieve the goals of sustainable development and biodiversity
conservation. The incremental benefits of Himalayan agriculture and ecosystem services
bridge the linkage of upstream and downstream population and beyond to benefit for
well being from goods and services to the present and future generations.

Climate change and Human activities in large cardamom growing tracts

The changes in rainfall and temperature coupled with human activities contributed to have
serious effect in cardamom at its growing state. During the last decade visible changes was
noticed in the following areas:
46
 1. Developmental activities viz., construction of roads and buildings
2. Changes of water stream due to construction of roads
3. Increase in the number of vehicles and thereby in vehicle emissions
4. Changes of water sources due to construction of dams and other developmental
activities such as PMGSY roads.
Observations that might be attributable to climate change which has had visible affect in
large cardamom cultivation are listed below:

i) Extinction of large cardamom cultivars and allied genera: High productive eco
type of Sawney cultivar is not found now in Richo village, Phodong, North Sikkim.
Rato (Red) Varlangey having high capsule (35 capsule / spike) yield is not
available at South Regu and Talkatra village of Rongli, East Sikkim. A preliminary
study revealed that two allied genera of large cardamom locally called Churumpa
has becomes extinct from Sikkim during the last decade.

ii) Phenology: Higher temperature can also alter plant behavior shifting natural
event of flowering and leafing. Normally, large cardamom comes into bearing in
third years onwards in case of sucker planting. However, in some cases this
flowering behavior was observed to
have preponed to one and half year
onwards. Abnormal elongation of
flower with unknown etiology was
recorded during the last decade in some
plantation which may be a threat to
obtain productivity.

Fig1. Elongation of spike due to climate change ?

iii) Life span: Economic life span of large cardamom was calculated to be 15 years.
However, in practice the life span of the crop was coming down seven to eight
years irrespective of cultivars. Life span of high yielding variety viz., Varlangey
was reduced to five years only.

iv) Plant behavior / shade requirement: Plant behavior in terms of growth was also
changed. Large cardamom is a shade loving plant. It can grow well in shade (50
%) conditions. In recent years, it is observed that the crop is coming up well in
some areas with less shade or open condition. Damage due to frost and
hailstorm are more in the open area compared to shaded areas crop.

Fig 2. Frost damaged plantation Fig 3. Hailstorm damage

47
v) Diseases: Large cardamom witnesses mainly the problem of viral diseases viz.,
Chirkey and foorkey . But
last decade minor disease
viz., Colletotrichum
became a major one in
almost all the large
cardamom plantations due
to congenial atmosphere
of the fungal spore
formation which spread
rapidly in the growing
areas.

Fig 4. Blight infected clump

p of large cardamom.

vi) Insect pests: Leaf caterpillar ( Artona

chorista Jordan ) was the major pests of
large cardamom till one decade back.
However, at present minor pests namely
stem borer ( Glyphopterix spp) , shoot fly (
Merochlorops dimorphus Cherian
Cheri ), Lace
wing bug , White grub ( Holotrichia spp)
become the major one. Changes of load of
natural enemies in periodic climatic change
might lead to transform minor pest to a
major one.

Fig. 5 Shoot fly infested clump.

vii) Change of host preference by insect

in
pest: Changes of host preference by
Holotrichia sp was observed during
2000-to
to 2012. In Sikkim, Holotrichia
spp was a major pest of ginger. The
pests now become a major one in
large cardamom plantation in almost
all the growing tracts. Three to four
grub per clump was observed during
the survey throughout the year
during 2007- 2011.

Fig. 6 White grub ( Holotrichia spp)

48
 viii) Pollination: Pollination plays a major role in large cardamom capsule and seed
setting. From a preliminary it was known that honey bee ( Apis spp ) can pollinate
only 10 % of capsule. Major role is played by bumble bee ( Bombus breviceps
and B. haemorrhoidalis Smith ). These bees construct their nest in ground making
tunnel. There is a chance to disturb the nests and habitat of the bee due to
developmental work and agronomic practices, etc. A fluctuating trend of
frequency of bee to the flower was observed in certain location in large
cardamom plantation during last decade.

Fig. 7 Large cardamom flower Fig. 8 Large cardamom pollinator

( Bombus spp)

Climate Change adaptation in crop varieties – Baby Corn

Maize is one of the important crops grown by farmers in the State. The crop is grown during
the pre-kharif or summer season mainly for the feed to the animals and the grain. Though
the crop is well adapted to the region under rainfed condition, the changing climate is
posing threat to the production of maize in the State. Drought condition prevails due to less
rain during the later stage of crop growth, which is more detrimental for production of
Maize.
Baby corn, which realize high price in the market can be an alternative crop for diversifying
some niches of maize grown area in the state for economic security to the farmers. Of late,
the changing lifestyle of the people and the high influx of the tourists in the state have
created the high domestic demand for baby corn. Its importance in soups, pizzas,
vegetables, salads etc. has boosted in the market. It has also high potential of biomass
production with in short spell of 60-70 days and two or more crops can be taken per year.
To sustain the cattle population in the region, baby corn can provide supplementary source
of green fodder for milking animals in the summer months.
Being short duration crop there is also a less chance of crop failure and farmer realize very
high return which can compensate the loss incurred from other crops or enterprise.
Owing to high carbon sequestration potential of baby corn (C4 plant) with two or more
crops a year and high income to the farmers; it is a choice crop for climate resilient.
The State is encouraging the cultivation of organic baby corn in the farmers field. In view of
improving the economic condition of small and marginal farmers, baby corn is popularized
in the market. Inputs like seed and manures, training and method demonstration, market
linkage with SIMFED and processing of baby corn at Government Fruit Preservation factory
were arranged by the department to ease the farmers in adopting the technology.

49
Climate Change adaptation - Buckwheat
The crops are grown in kharif and rabi
season in the state. Most of the crops in the
state are grown in rainfed condition. After
harvest of kharif crops, the field is kept
fallow due to lack of assured irrigation or
lack of water source during winter. The
State is facing erratic or uncertain rainfall
during winter and the farmers have been
advised for utilization of winter fallow by
cultivation of traditional crop -Buckwheat
for additional income to the farmers. This
crop can grow even in the moisture stress
condition.

Indigenous varieties, landraces and underutilized crops of Sikkim Himalayas

Experiences have shown that development efforts that ignore indigenous knowledge, local
system of knowledge and local environment generally fail to achieve their desired
objectives. Indegenous, traditional or local knowledge (IK) refers to the unique, traditional,
local knowledge existing with in and developed around the specific conditions of human
being indigenous to particular geographic area. Sikkim Himalayas s very rich in traditional
agriculture knowledge and resources and harbor numerous potential crops, which needs
comprehensive studies and authentication.

1. Indigenous varieties and landraces

The majority of farmers of Sikkim hills still rely on the indigenous landraces or the varieties
of different crops. Some of the landraces are most acceptable by the farmers. Over the time
farmers have assessed different varieties and type of the cultivable plant and the technology
so developed is widely accepted and very difficult to diverse the farmers to the modern
varieties and technology. Any scientific fraternity and the policy makers can make the wiser
decisions on improving those technologies through participatory methods.

- Paddy

Some of the well adapted indigenous selection with no proper documentation grown in
Sikkim are Attey, Phudungey, Khanti etc.
These varieties are difficult to replace by
the High Yielding Varieties. The state
practice the agriculture + animal
husbandry type of farming system, the
only alternative for the fodder to the
animal during winter or dry season is
paddy straw. Therefore the farmers’
preference for the varieties is due to
higher biomass (long straw) than HYV.
The nutrient application causes the crop
to lodge, but at low nutrient level it yields
better than HYV with higher biomass. The
Attay is found growing at all elevation
50
and resist many pest and diseases. No farmers have reported chaffy grain formation in this
variety as in HYV, so they found it more secure. The size of the grain is short and bold
whereas its length varies from 8 – 10 mm .The colour of the hull is Brown/light yellow and
grain colour is white with very good cooking quality and acceptable taste. The varieties have
not been properly characterized and their parent material also not known. If these cultivars
are properly documented and registered to the national gene pool, rice production in hilly
area like Sikkim can be increased through certain genetic improvement.

- Maize

The cultivars which are continuously adopting in Sikkim are Murali, Rati, Paheli, Seti etc. The
Stalk of these cultivars is quite rigid and erect which may act as a good supportive structure
for the plants like peas, beans or other tendruller plants. Moreover, these cultivar can
withstand wind velocity upto certain limits and also bears more than two cobs per plant
which may helps to achieve good returns to the farmers and yields better than HYV at low
nutrient level.

- Cherry Pepper

Though the varieties are not documented, different types of

cherry pepper are grown by farmers even at the commercial
level. The pungency is very high and has got good market
value. Commercial production of pickles is also in the
market.

- Chayote

Chayote grown in Sikkim is sometime considered as poor

man’s vegetable. Every household of the state grow
atleast one plant. Different types of chayote found
growing in the district. Matured fruit sown in the big pit
with adequate quantity of farm yard manures. After April
the young tendrils are taken as the vegetable. Depending
upon the altitude, the plant start bearing after may upto
December. One plant has the capacity to produce more
than a quintal of fruits if properly manures. In January
plant dries up, the tuberized portion of the root is eaten
as vegetables. The dried up plants and deformed fruits
are again not wasted, as they supplement the cattle feed.
The plant part remains the constituent of diet of the
people round the year. Chayote fruits after chopping is
dried and kept for later use. Peoples have gain the
expertise in making pickles also.

51
 - Pumpkin

Pumpkin found the equal place in diet of peoples of rural Sikkim as that of chayote. The
varieties or the landraces grown are different than those grown in other part of the country
and has acceptable taste. They are grown without trellies in maize field, neither the
manuring especially for pumkin is done.

- Cucumber

The local varieties of cucumber are unique. These varieties are not only use for salad
purpose but even for cooking as vegetables and making pickles. The varieties are usually
long and dark green in colour, and give the weight upto 3-4 Kgs. The market value of these
varieties is better than those imported from other state of the country.

52
Some of the local landraces and varieties of economically important plants are listed as
under:
S. Name of Local Name Botanical Name Family Local Varieties cultivated by
No. the crop peoples
1 Rice Dhan Oryzae sativa Graminae Attey, Marchi, Taprey,
(Poaceae) Sikrey, Tulsi, Kalimpongey,
Lalbachi, Phudungay, Katti,
Monsoroo, Khanti, Dudhey
Marshi
2 Maize Makai Zea mays Graminae Murali, Kali, Rati, Paheli,
(Poaceae) Seti, Himali
3 Wheat Gahu Triticum aestivum Graminae Tho, Mashi, Si
(Poaceae)
4 Finger Kodo Eleusine coracana Graminae Murkey, Bhadaurey,
Millet (Poaceae) Pangdur, Katikey, Mangsire
5 Buck wheat Phapar Fagopyrum tartaricum Graminae Mithey, Titey
(Poaceae)
6 French Simi Phaseolus vulgaris Leguminaceae Ghew Simi, Singtamey simi,
beans Pothray, Muntulal, Hewday
7 Black gram Dal Phaseolus sp. Leguminaceae Paheli, Kali, Seti
8 Pea Matar Pisum sativum Solanaceae Dentamey, Damthangey
9 Radish Mula Raphanus sativus Rati mula, Hatti Pailey
10 Potato Alu Solanum tuberosum Solanaceae Rato, Seto, Sanu Alu, Thulo
Alu, Hilley Alu, Uttarey Alu,
Kusumey
11 Sweet Sakarkanda Ipomeae batata Convulvolaceae Seto Sakarkanda, Rato
potato Sakakanda
12 Yams Tarul Dioscoreae sp. Ghar tarul ( rato and seto),
Ban tarul, patalle
13 Kiwi Thekiphal Actinidia callosa Actinidaceae Thekiphal
14 Ginzer Aduwa Ginziber officinale Ginziberaceae Bhaisey, Jorthangey, Thulo
aduwa, Nangray
15 Cardamom Alaichi Amomum subulatum Ginziberaceae Ramsey, golsey, Ramla,
bharlangey
16 Turmeric Hardi Curcuma lunga Ginziberaceae Rato haldi, Pahelo hardi
17 Cucumber Kakro Cucumis sativa Cucurbitaceae Bhadaurey, Asare, mangsire
18 Pumpkin Pharsi Cucurbita pepo Cucurbitaceae Kalo pharsi, seto pharsi,
thulo pharsi, pyaharey,
hazari
19 Cherry Dale Capsicum frutensis Solanaceae Nagey, Sanu dalley, Thullo
Pepper khursani var. cerasiforme Dalley
20 Hog Plum Lapsi Sapindus sp. Anacardiaceae
21 Chayote Eskus Sechium edulis Cucurbitaceae Seto, haryo, Dumsay
22 Sweet Ban Karela Momordica Cucurbitaceae Ban Karela
Gourd cochinchinensis
23 Tree Rukh Tamtar Cyphomandra Solanaceae
Tomato betaceae

53
Traditional Ecological Knowledge related to rainfall patterns
Local communities of Sumbuk-Kartikey, Aho-Yagthang and Liknkey tareythang GPUs
revealed that there are several names of rainfall pattern called Jhari (continuous rain for
two days to several days). In about 20 year ago and before that they had experiences Titey
Jhari. Such Jharis are important for the rain fed agriculture.

Table 1. Traditional Ecological Knowledge associated rainfall patterns.

Sl. Name of the Knowledge associated to rains
No. Jhari
1 Titey Jhari This rain continues for about a week during the flowing time
of Titeypati (Artemisia vulgeris)

2 Naurathey Rain that continues for a few days during Nauratha (15 days
Jhari before Dusehra festival). This time is called dhan-pasauney-
bela (rice matures for flowering) and requires enough water.
Farmers argue that after this rain rice flowering takes place
and thus is good for rice.

3 Sisney Jhari This rain appears during the flowering time nettle (Sishnu)
Xantholylum budrunga.

4 Bhadaurey Farmers expect rain after the paddy in shown during June-
Jhari July (Ashad and Shravana). They had experienced rain during
Bhadau (15 July- 15 August) which would recharge the
perennial springs and seasonal springs for continous
irrigation of the rice fields.

5 Sauney Jhari Long rainfall event during Shravana (period between 15 June-
15 July) during the time of sowing of rice in subtropical to
lower temperate region

6 Makurey During Shravana, when the spiders start constructing their

Jhari webs everywhere in the agriculture and foerst areas,
indigenous people believe that it is a sign for rainfall for a few
days.

7 Bagareni The high altitude bird species mostly those inhabiting along
Jhari the riverine forests gradually start migrating to the warmers
subtropical belts, thus farmers understand that that is a sign
of Bagareni Jhari

8 Kattikey Jhari Short rains during October. Some of the traditional varieties
require rains

54
9 Sohrasaradey Rainfall event before Dusshera festival
Jhari

10 Mangsirey Rains that shower during the first week of November, this is
Jhari the harvest time of paddy from
the field

Recognition of Sikkim Himalayan Agri-diversity in UN-FAO-GIAHS

In order to safeguard and support the world’s agri-cultural heritage systems, in 2002
FAO started an initiative for the dynamic conservation of Globally Important Agricultural
Heritage systems (GIAHS). The GIAHS Initiative promotes public understanding,
awareness, national and international recognition of Agricultural Heritage Systems.

Scientific literature has proved that the Sikkim Himalaya houses agriculture biodiversity
of global significance. The Mountain Institute India (TMI India) and the United Nations
University (UNU) are working towards the recognition of Sikkim Himalayan Agriculture
System under Globally Important Agriculture Heritage System (GIAHS). A proposal was
developed by UNU for recognition of the Sikkim Himalayan Agriculture Systems by the
GIAHS FAO in 2007. It was endorsed by the Government of Sikkim and submitted to the
GIAHS UN FAO. The Sikkim Himalayan Agriculture System is now recognized as the
candidate site of GIAHS of the UN FAO, while official procedure for its final recognition is
still in process. This initiative has given recognition of Sikkim Himalayan Agriculture as
remarkable agro-ecosystems and has contributed to the validation of the traditional
farming system and the Traditional Ecological Knowledge associated to it in the regional
to global level.

The GIAHS initiative has gained momentum in India with recognition of a few such
farming system that are representatives for the present and the future. One example is
The Kuttanad Below Sea-level Farming System (KBSFS) in Kerala State of India. It is a
unique, and the only system in India that practices rice cultivation below sea level. The
major land use structure of KBSFS is flat stretches of rice fields are popularly known as
"Puncha Vayals" in about 50,000 ha of mostly reclaimed delta swamps. Farmers of
Kuttanad have developed and mastered the spectacular technique of below sea level
cultivation over 150 year ago. They made this system unique as it contributes
remarkably well to the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services including
several livelihood services for local communities (http://www.giahs.org/giahs-
sites/south-east-asia/kuttanad-below-sea-level-farming-system-india/zh/). Another
example of GIAHS in India is the Traditional Agriculture System of Koraput Odisha. The
Koraput region houses the genetic resources repository of global significance with about
79 angiosperm and one species gymnosperm endemic to the region. The region is
known for its ecological wealth coexisting with poverty, generally referred to as the
paradox of economic poverty in the midst of genetic prosperity.
(http://www.giahs.org/giahs-sites/south-east-asia/traditional-agriculture-systems-
koraput-india/zh/).

55
Indigenous Knowledge on Food Processing and Indigenous Food
Products
Several food products are typical to Sikkim and the ethnic groups residing in the state have
developed the indigenous technologies of these items over several decades. These products
have a very good domestic market. Some of them are:

a. Gundruk and Sinki

Gundruk is the fermented product of the leaves of spinach (rayo saag), horseradish (moola),
cauliflower, toria or mustard and sinki is made from fermented horse-radish. These products
are normally prepared during winter when there is surplus in production of these vegetables
and are stored and consumed as a cooked vegetable usually in the form of a soup or broth.
It is also used as a pickle with the addition of salt, mustard oil and some spices. Though, the
product is predominantly produced by the Bahun and Chettri community of Sikkim
Himalayas, it is popular amongst other communities as well.

Gundruk is prepared during the months of December to January. A pit is dug of suitable size.
After digging the pit, it is sterilized by burning paddy straw in the pit. To avoid the contact of
soil with the food material to be fermented, paddy straw is kept around the pit and the
baans khabatta (sheath of bamboo from the node). The leaves are wilted in the sun, dipped
in hot water and beaten lightly in a wooden mortar and pestle (okhli) and put into the pit.
The leaves are pressed with the help of the feet in case of a big pit. Once a batch of leaves is
pressed, another batch is prepared and put in till the pit is filled up. The top of the pit is
again covered with paddy straw and khabatta and finally sealed with a layer of soil. The
cover should be such that the water should not penetrate inside and should create
anaerobic conditions for the leaves to ferment. After about 30 to 45 days the fermented
material is taken out carefully to avoid soil contamination and is dried in the sun. Once dry it
is stored for future use. Smaller batches are prepared using tin containers or earthen pots.
Sinki is prepared using the same process on chopped radish.

b. Mesu
Mesu is prepared only during the months of June to September when bamboo shoots
sprout. In the traditional method of its preparation, young edible shoots of bamboo
(Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Nees and Arnott, Bambusa tulda Roxb. and Dendrocalamus
sikkimensis Gamble, locally known as choya bans, karati bans, and bhalu bans, respectively)
are defoliated, chopped, pressed tightly into a hollow bamboo stem, covered tightly with
leaves of bamboo or other wild plants and left at ambient temperature (20-250C) to
ferment for 7-15 days. Completion of fermentation is indicated by the typical mesu flavor
and taste. Mesu is commonly used as pickle by mixing it with salt, mustard oil and green
chillies. It is also used for preparing curry.

c. Preparation of Kodo ko Jaanr (millet beer)

Dry grains of finger millet are cleaned, washed and cooked. Excess water is then drained off.
The cooked grains are spread over a bamboo mat at room temperature. Local made yeast or
marcha ‘ a dry starter solution” is added during this time at the rate 2%. After mixing the

56
marcha, they are packed in heap for saccharification. During saccharification a sweet aroma
is emitted and the saccharified mass of finger millets is transferred into an earthern pot or
into a specially made bamboo basket called ‘septu’, made air tight and fermented for 3-4
days during summer and 5-7 days in winter at room temperature. The fermented product is
consumed by putting into special large bamboo container called tongba. Hot water is
poured at the top of the tongba and this percolates through the grains to the bottom from
where it is sipped using a straw made of thin bamboo called phipsing. Alternatively, the
fermented millet grains are steeped in hot water and the juices squeezed out with the
hands to form white coloured brew known as chhang.

d. Pickles of Nakima, Lapsi, and Dalley

The pickles of Nakima (Tupistra nutans) using the bitter flower bud, Lapsi (Choerosopondias
axillaries Roxb.) or Nepalese Hog plum a big seeded plum like fleshy sour fruit and dalley
khursani (Cherry pepper) are very popular with the local people. The pickle making of these
plants part can be observed in most households of the state irrespective of the community,
caste and the creed. Nakima flower buds are also picked and sundried to be stored and used
as a vegetable dish. Lapsi is also used for making dried fruit nuggets or fruit leather
(Titaura). Cherry peppers are also mixed with bamboo shoots and other vegetables for
pickle making or ground to a paste. It has a unique and distinct flavor and aroma. Pickle
making from cherry pepper has been commercialized into larger scale production by many
entrepreneurs as it has a good commercial demand within and outside the state.

Indigenous Knowledge on use of Edible wild Plants as Food

From early times the local communities in Sikkim have adopted the use of wild plants for
food and other uses. There is great potential for exploring these plants for cultivation. Some
of the important plants are listed as under:

S.No. Wild Edible Plants Uses

Local name/English Botanical Name
Name
1. Chewri Bassia butyraceae Use of table fruits
2. Simrayo Nasturtium fontana
3. Sisnu Urtica dioca As vegetables
4. Oyster Mushroom Pleurotus sp. As vegetables
5. Edible fern shoot/Niguro Dryopteris sp. As vegetables
6. Bhakmilo Rhus semialata For making sauce, or pickles
7. Lapsi Spondias axillaries Roxb As pickles
8. Nakima Tupistra nutans As pickles

57
Plants used for the preparation of Indigenous biopesticides

S. No. Local or English Name Botanical Name Part Use

1 Acid Lime ( Nimbu) Citrus aurantifolia Leaf
2 African marigold Tagetes erecta Whole Plant
3 Angeri (N) Pieris formosa Leaf and bark
4 Bepari ( N) Ostodes peniculata leaf
5 Bhaley Timur (N) Zanthoxyllum alatum Fruit and leaf
6 Bokay Timur ( N) Zanthoxyllum Fruit and leaf
acanthopodium
7 Chilli Capsicum annum Dried fruit
8 Dokray Phool ( N) Polygalla arillata Root, bark, leaf
9 French marigold Tagetes patula Whole plant
10 Gantey (N) Gyanocardia odorata Fruit
11 Garlic Allium sativum Leaf and bulb
12 Hing ( N) Ferula narther
13 Kali Jyambir ( N) Citrus jambhiri Leaf, fruit juice,
fruit rind
14 Mandarin orange (Suntola) Citrus reticulata Leaf, fruit rind
15 Onion Allium cepa Whole plants
16 Patley Sisnu ( N) Laportea terminalis Whole plants
17 Pirey Sotar (N) Glaphylopteriopsis Leaf
erubenscens
18 Rough Lemon ( Naitey Citrus junos Leaf, fruit juice,
jyamir) fruit rind
19 Sil Timur ( N) Litsaea citrata Fruit and leaf
20 Titepati (N) Artimisia vulgaris Leaf
21 Turmeric Curcuma longa Dried Rhizome
22 Thullo sisnu ( N) Girardia palmata Whole plant

EMERGING AND POTENTIAL LIVELIHOOD OPTIONS IN SIKKIM HIMALAYAS

Sikkim has experienced dynamic farming systems over a decade. A simple Agriculture and
Horticulture type of farming system have been integrated with various high value
components such as flowers, beekeeping, fishpond, vegetables etc. With the advent of
organic policies, top priority to protected cultivation and floriculture and vibrant extension
mechanism in the state, we have now witnessed the best possible livelihood options for the
farmers across the state, which need further replication.

Protected cultivation of vegetables

The land holding of more than 70% of the farmers in Sikkim hills is small and marginal. The
high income per unit area is the only option for livelihood sustenance. Cultivation of crops
like leafy vegetable, tomato, capsicum etc. with little manipulation of sowing time or in
offseason is most lucrative for the farmers. High rainfall during summer or rainy season and
extreme cold during winter, occurrence of hailstorm during growing period pose serious

58
challenge for growing such vegetables. Cultivation of vegetables under low cost protected
structure (polyhouse) has been the major technological intervention for avoiding the
weatherr vagaries in the hills for successful growing of vegetables round the year. The local
market has sustainable demand of fresh vegetables round the year in premium prices which
make the vegetable growing most lucrative. There are many success stories where farmers
can earn gross income upto Rs. 45000.00/annum from a small unit of 134 Sq. m of lowcost
polyhouse.

Vegetable cultivation in lowcost polyhouse

Clusters of polyhouses in South Sikkim growing different vegetables

59
Floriculture
Floriculture is new entry in the farming system of Sikkim hills. Over the past one decade
there has been a tremendous effort on commercialization of floriculture in the state. Based
on the suitability of growing flower, different clusters are developed in the state.
Cymbidium, Gerbera, Anthurium, Roses, Alstroemeria are the major flowers being
commercialized in the state.

Cymbidium cutflower is one of the most priced cutflower in domestic as well as global
market. Sikkim hills at an altitude of 4500 to 5500 ft from MSL have been recognized to be
the best zone for cymbidium growing. Cultivation of Cymbidium in a protected condition has
been the best livelihood option for many farmers across the state.

With the gross investment of Rupees 10 lakhs in a period of 6 years there may have a
estimated gross return of Rs. 24 lakhs in 10 years time in a small unit of 1000 Sq.m.

Gerbera, cultivated at lower altitude of 2000ft to 3000 ft from mean sea level, is also a
source of livelihood in the state for many farmers. On an average, farmers get gross return
of Rs. 2.0 Lakhs with the gross investment of Rs. 80000.00 from a unit of 1000 Sq.m over a
period of 30 months.
Rose, introduced at certain pocket of state, has also been the livelihood options for many
farmers. Farmers are happy getting return of about Rs. 50,000/annum from a unit of 500
Sq.m.

Cymbidium cut flower production

60
 Rose cut flower production

Rose village in West Sikkim

Backyard farming

Integrated farming system is most practiced in Sikkim. In a small holding, the household has
their backyard farm in an integrated manner. Peoples have now found their ways for
judicious management of all the components of an integrated farm. Introduction of
backyard poultry, beekeeping, fisheries or mushroom to the conventional backyard farm has

61
been more beneficial and proving to be the sustainable livelihood options for most of the
smallholder farmers.

Introduction of 20 birds of dual purpose poultry bird in a backyard farm will have an
additional income of Rs 10,000 per annum, two pigs in a system adds about 30,000/annum.
Maintenance of 50 broiler birds in the farm may add upto 10000 net additional income.
Well managed vegetable garden in backyard farming, farmers are adopting cultivation under
low cost poly tunnel (square meter gardening) for offseason vegetables like coriander,
lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, radish, cauliflower etc. This technology protects crop from stress,
pest & diseases, rodents etc. In case of leafy vegetables a farmer gets 3.5kgs of biomass
costing about Rs.120/ kg which works out to Rs. 420 from one square meter land within
three months and incase of leafy spice like coriander a farmers earn about Rs.1000 from one
square meter within three months.
Maintaining four bee-colony in a backyard farm not only improves the pollination in crops
but also helps in getting the additional income of atleast Rs 8000.00/ annum. Well organized
backyard farm of 1acre may have gross return of about 1.5 lakh, which is sustainable.

Square meter farming in low tunnel

Broiler unit in backyard farm

62
Some Issues and Concerns about Agriculture in Sikkim
Food Security

• Rice cultivation in the Himalayan state may drastically decrease and may create serious
food insecurity.

• Age old terrace farming, a heritage agriculture system of the Himalayas is threatened.

• If rice cultivation is discouraged, there may be extinction of various traditional

germplasm of the rice. Many varieties/indigenous germplasm most suited to hill
conditions have already experienced variation or have become extinct.

• Plantation of crops like cardamom, hill broom and Banana in rice fields and recently
floriculture (rose farming) and polyhouses not only reduce rice production but also the
production of rabi crops such as buckwheat, potato, mustard and rabi vegetables.

• Excessive damage of crops by wildlife, make horticulture and agriculture un-

remunerative. Incidents of man animal conflicts have risen- some attribute it to success
in conservation measures and some attribute it to failure of forest produce due to
climate change leading to animals moving into cultivated areas.

Organic Farming
• Conservation subsidy on green manuring and biofertilisers. Presently no subsidy on
these is being allowed, though representations have been made to the Ministry.
• Subsidy for bio-fertiliser at the same or equal rates as chemical fertilizers
• Transport subsidy for dolomite to be substantial as the material has to come from
outside the state.

Extension and training

• High employee turnover amongst extension workers on consolidated pay due to
persons being over qualified, not being satisfied with consolidated pay. They
continually seek better career options. This causes loss of skilled manpower and
recourses spent on trainings.
• Suggested to employ educated rural youths (10+2) from the same block.
• The response to the Kisan Call Centre made from Sikkim is disheartening as the state
does not have its own call centre and the calls are diverted through another state
such as Tamil Nadu resulting in a language problem with the responder.

63
Recommendations
Considering the importance of crop diversification for increasing farmers’ income and
employment opportunities, reducing production risk and improving soil fertility and human
nutrition, the following recommendations are drawn:

• Special efforts need to be made to produce at least major fruits and vegetables on a
year-round basis and commercialize their production through appropriate research and
development programmes.
• Emphasis should be given on the qualitative and quantitative improvement of various
fruits and vegetables production, including production of mushrooms, flowers, orchids
and ornamental plants.
• To encourage crop diversification, some prospective cropping patterns, improved
practices and irrigation management should be demonstrated at different locations.
• In view of the predominantly small farmer holdings, recommendations should be
specifically targeted to improve the production system of small farmer holdings.
• Research should be undertaken for varietal improvement of high-value crops and for
assessing the technical and economic feasibility of growing them under both irrigated
and non-irrigated conditions.
• Efficient support services and institutions for credit, marketing, processing and packing
should be geared up.
• Research system not only needs to address the issues connected with continuance and
indulgence and knowledge in the areas of emerging technologies but also create a cadre
of scientists through the continuous upgrade of skills and human resource development.
• Researchers need to popularize the technologies, impart knowledge and skills to the
extension functionaries for the quick transfer of technologies to the farmers.

Recommendation for Cardamom

1. Documentation of experiences of local people, observations and traditional
ecological knowledge developed over decades, change on water, biodiversity,
agriculture, livestock etc are important to understand the issue.
2. Education to the society is needed for overcoming the voluntary organization might
play major role in this aspect.
3. Establishment of a state-level inter-departmental authority, to implement a state-
wide framework for climate change adaptation declaring the part of the state as a
large cardamom bio-reserve might be helpful to tackle the issue.

64
Recommendations for Potential livelihood options to be explored

Sikkim practices organic agriculture. The on-farm production of manures, biofertilizer and
biopestides involving various tested technologies on a commercial scale to cater the need
for nutrient supplementation and pests & disease management is the need of the hour.
Various livelihood options may be explored.

1. The production of products like enriched vermicompost, Biodynamic composts,

azolla composts, plant extracts for pests and diseases management and their
certification.
2. Small scale biofertilizer plants
3. Organic animal feed production
4. Tissue culture laboratories for production of planting materials of various crops
5. Organic seed production of various crops like vegetables and cereals
6. Maintenance of power tiller or custom hiring of power tools required for farm
mechanization.
7. Value addition of organic produce and their marketing

Vermicompost production

Biopesticides preparation by farmers

65
 ANNEXURE I

AREA, PRODUCTION AND PRODUCTIVITY OF DIFFERENT AGRICULTURAL CROPS FROM

1987-1988 to 1989 -1990 .
Area in 000’ha.
Production in 000’tonnes
Productivity in (kg/ha).
CROPS PARTICULARS 1987-88 1988-89 1989-90
I. CEREALS
1.PADDY AREA 15.50 15.50 16.00
PRODUCTION 17.10 16.49 19.20
PRODUCTIVITY 1103.23 1064.52 1200.00
2.WHEAT AREA 7.50 7.60 7.70
PRODUCTION 11.10 11.50 12.87
PRODUCTIVITY 14.80.00 1513.16 1672.73
3.MAIZE AREA 39.65 39.74 39.70
PRODUCTION 49.96 55.95 56.89
PRODUCTIVITY 1260.00 1408.98 1433.50
4.BARLEY AREA 0.80 0.90 1.00
PRODUCTION 1.06 1.20 1.25
PRODUCTIVITY 1325.00 1333.33 1250.00
5.B/WHEAT AREA 2.00 2.00 1.72
PRODUCTION 1.37 1.37 1.20
PRODUCTIVITY 685.00 685.00 697.67
6.FINGER MILLET AREA 4.80 4.90 4.90
PRODUCTION 4.30 4.40 4.50
PRODUCTIVITY 895.83 897.96 918.37
TOTAL CEREALS AREA 70.25 70.64 71.02
PRODUCTION 84.89 90.91 95.91
PRODUCTIVITY 1208.40 1286.95 1350.47
II. PULSES
1.URD AREA 4.00 4.00 4.00
PRODUCTION 3.00 3.00 2.90
PRODUCTIVITY 750.00 750.00 725.00
2.OTHER PULSES AREA 1.80 2.00 2.10
PRODUCTION 1.90 2.10 2.30
PRODUCTIVITY 1055.56 1050.00 1095.24
TOTAL PULSES AREA 5.80 6.00 6.10
PRODUCTION 4.90 5.10 5.20
PRODUCTIVITY 844.83 850.00 852.46
TOTAL FOOD GRAIN AREA 76.05 76.64 77.12
PRODUCTION 89.79 96.01 101.11
PRODUCTIVITY 1180.67 1252.74 1311.07
III. OILSEEDS
SOYBEAN AREA 3.70 3.70 3.62
PRODUCTION 3.10 3.10 3.00
PRODUCTIVITY 837.84 837.84 828.73
RAPESEED & MUSTARD AREA 2.80 2.90 3.00
PRODUCTION 2.40 2.50 2.60
PRODUCTIVITY 857.14 862.00 866.67
OTHER OIL SEEDS AREA 0.03 0.30 0.06
PRODUCTION 0.015 0.015 0.03
PRODUCTIVITY 500.00 500.00 500.00
TOTAL OIL SEEDS AREA 6.53 6.90 6.68

66
 PRODUCTION 5.52 5.62 5.63
PRODUCTIVITY 845.33 813.77 842.81

CROPS PARTICULARS 1990-91 1991-92 1992-93 1993-94 1994-95

I. CEREALS
1.PADDY AREA 16.05 16.05 16.07 16.00 15.95
PRODUCTION 22.03 20.17 20.71 20.64 21.00
PRODUCTIVITY 1373.21 1257.94 1289.26 1293.75 1316.61
2.WHEAT AREA 7.82 7.83 7.99 8.00 8.20
PRODUCTION 13.07 11.99 14.10 14.29 14.90
PRODUCTIVITY 1672.63 1582.57 1769.32 1787.50 1817.07
3.MAIZE AREA 39.90 40.30 40.32 39.20 39.90
PRODUCTION 57.57 58.83 53.91 53.07 56.50
PRODUCTIVITY 1443.61 1460.79 1337.86 1354.59 1416.04
4.BARLEY AREA 0.90 0.09 0.89 0.87 1.06
PRODUCTION 1.17 1.13 1.18 1.17 1.24
PRODUCTIVITY 1311.11 1266.67 1317.69 1356.32 1169.81
5.B/WHEAT AREA 1.72 1.71 1.72 1.72 2.19
PRODUCTION 1.41 1.28 1.45 1.46 1.75
PRODUCTIVITY 825.58 754.39 844.44 854.65 799.08
6.FINGER AREA 4.90 5.00 5.01 5.00 5.00
MILLET PRODUCTION 4.61 4.51 4.70 4.72 4.70
PRODUCTIVITY 942.80 902.00 939.68 944.00 940.00
TOTAL CEREALS AREA 71.29 70.98 72.00 75.51 72.30
PRODUCTION 100.40 97.91 96.05 95.35 100.09
PRODUCTIVITY 1408.33 1380.76 1334.02 1262.75 1384.37
II. PULSES
1.URD AREA 4.09 4.00 4.01 4.01 4.32
PRODUCTION 3.10 3.02 3.00 2.98 3.13
PRODUCTIVITY 760.60 755.00 749.93 745.64 724.53
2.OTHER AREA 2.12 1.71 2.12 2.12 2.23
PULSES PRODUCTION 2.37 2.05 2.39 2.39 2.47
PRODUCTIVITY 1122.64 1204.68 1130.76 1132.08 1107.62
TOTAL PULSES AREA 6.21 5.71 6.13 6.12 6.55
PRODUCTION 5.47 5.07 5.39 5.37 5.60
PRODUCTIVITY 880.84 887.91 879.28 877.44 854.96
TOTAL FOOD AREA 77.50 76.69 78.13 81.63 78.85
GRAIN PRODUCTION 105.87 102.98 101.44 100.72 105.69
PRODUCTIVITY 1366.06 1342.80 1298.35 1233.90 1340.39
III. OILSEEDS
SOYBEAN AREA 3.62 3.61 3.61 3.62 3.85
PRODUCTION 3.01 3.18 3.03 2.99 3.23
PRODUCTIVITY 832.25 883.66 839.77 828.73 838.96
RAPESEED & AREA 3.10 3.24 3.25 4.86 4.86
MUSTARD PRODUCTION 2.64 2.49 2.73 3.69 3.62
PRODUCTIVITY 854.84 771.60 840.92 761.32 744.85
OTHER OIL AREA 0.07 0.07 0.08 0.07 0.07
SEEDS PRODUCTION 0.03 0.03 0.06 0.03 0.03
PRODUCTIVITY 571.43 571.43 712.34 533.33 506.66
TOTAL OIL AREA 6.79 6.92 6.94 8.55 8.78
SEEDS PRODUCTION 5.68 5.70 5.82 6.71 6.88

67
 PRODUCTIVITY 836.52 823.69 838.62 784.79 784.06

CROPS PARTICULARS 1995-96 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000

I. CEREALS
1.PADDY AREA 15.93 15.95 15.69 15.87 15.90
PRODUCTION 21.87 22.06 21.44 21.95 23.43
PRODUCTIVITY 1372.60 1382.72 1366.78 1383.20 1473.37
2.WHEAT AREA 8.42 8.46 8.09 7.91 8.10
PRODUCTION 15.30 14.81 14.20 6.42 12.84
PRODUCTIVITY 1817.60 1750.59 1755.25 807.98 1586.39
3.MAIZE AREA 39.94 39.69 39.39 39.38 39.39
PRODUCTION 56.56 56.63 55.71 50.80 52.83
PRODUCTIVITY 1416.01 1426.90 1414.21 1289.91 1341.21
4.BARLEY AREA 1.08 1.11 1.31 1.13 1.14
PRODUCTION 1.56 1.56 1.51 1.21 1.67
PRODUCTIVITY 1451.48 1411.71 1152.67 1076.99 1471.05
5.B/WHEAT AREA 2.19 2.06 2.06 2.04 2.05
PRODUCTION 1.73 1.61 1.60 1.54 1.59
PRODUCTIVITY 790.97 781.55 77.69 758.77 775.65
6.FINGER AREA 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 4.98
MILLET PRODUCTION 4.75 4.71 4.73 4.71 4.71
PRODUCTIVITY 950.00 942.00 946.00 942.62 944.92
TOTAL CEREALS AREA 72.57 72.28 71.54 71.36 71.57
PRODUCTION 101.79 101.40 99.19 86.65 97.10
PRODUCTIVITY 1402.59 1402.87 1386.50 1214.15 1356.58
II. PULSES
1.URD AREA 4.44 4.40 4.40 4.40 4.40
PRODUCTION 3.21 3.30 3.30 3.04 3.30
PRODUCTIVITY 724.09 750.00 750.00 693.09 752.18
2.OTHER AREA 2.29 2.31 2.31 2.30 2.31
PULSES PRODUCTION 2.70 2.69 2.65 2.54 2.63
PRODUCTIVITY 1179.03 1164.50 1147.18 1107.00 1141.34
TOTAL PULSES AREA 6.73 6.71 6.71 6.70 6.71
PRODUCTION 5.91 5.99 5.95 5.59 5.94
PRODUCTIVITY 878.90 892.69 886.73 835.17 886.15
TOTAL FOOD AREA 79.30 78.99 78.25 78.06 78.28
GRAIN PRODUCTION 107.70 107.39 105.14 92.24 103.05
PRODUCTIVITY 1358.15 1359.53 1343.65 1181.63 1316.30
III. OILSEEDS
SOYBEAN AREA 3.81 4.02 4.00 4.02 4.15
PRODUCTION 3.20 3.36 3.29 2.74 3.40
PRODUCTIVITY 841.99 835.82 823.75 682.98 820.91
RAPESEED & AREA 5.84 5.71 5.56 5.68 5.76
MUSTARD PRODUCTION 4.38 4.24 4.27 2.41 4.16
PRODUCTIVITY 750.95 742.56 767.98 424.73 723.02
OTHER OIL AREA 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08
SEEDS PRODUCTION 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.03
PRODUCTIVITY 500.00 500.00 500.00 500.00 425.00

68
TOTAL OIL AREA 9.73 9.81 9.64 9.78 9.99
SEEDS PRODUCTION 7.63 7.64 7.60 5.19 7.60
PRODUCTIVITY 784.54 778.79 788.90 831.50 761.30

CROPS PARTICULARS 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05

I. CEREALS
1.PADDY AREA 15.21 14.90 14.79 14.74 14.74
PRODUCTION 21.35 21.37 21.22 21.19 21.61
PRODUCTIVITY 1403.00 1434.00 1434.75 1437.58 1437.58
2.WHEAT AREA 7.21 6.70 6.33 5.74 5.74
PRODUCTION 10.10 9.19 8.86 8.09 8.25
PRODUCTIVITY 1400.00 1372.00 1399.68 1409.41 1409.41
3.MAIZE AREA 39.90 40.11 36.72 36.70 36.70
PRODUCTION 59.61 57.01 53.72 57.05 58.19
PRODUCTIVITY 1494.00 1421.00 1499.07 1554.50 1554.00
4.BARLEY AREA 1.14 1.18 1.23 1.23 1.23
PRODUCTION 1.21 1.33 1.50 1.51 1.52
PRODUCTIVITY 1061.00 1129.00 1219.51 1227.64 1227.64
5.B/WHEAT AREA 1.99 2.01 2.00 2.01 2.01
PRODUCTION 1.53 1.29 1.54 1.55 1.56
PRODUCTIVITY 769.00 644.00 770.00 771.14 771.14
6.FINGER AREA 4.56 4.93 4.34 4.15 4.15
MILLET PRODUCTION 4.23 4.46 3.74 3.57 3.60
PRODUCTIVITY 928.00 905.00 861.75 860.24 860.24
TOTAL CEREALS AREA 70.02 69.83 65.41 64.57 64.57
PRODUCTION 98.04 94.66 90.58 92.96 94.73
PRODUCTIVITY 1400.00 1356.00 1384.80 1439.67 1439.68
II. PULSES
1.URD AREA 3.78 3.78 3.78 3.78 3.78
PRODUCTION 2.74 2.71 2.71 2.81 2.84
PRODUCTIVITY 727.00 717.00 738.10 743.39 743.39
2.OTHER AREA 2.25 2.86 2.90 2.93 2.93
PULSES PRODUCTION 2.41 3.21 3.47 3.57 3.60
PRODUCTIVITY 1074.00 1121.00 1196.55 1218.43 1218.43
TOTAL PULSES AREA 6.03 6.64 6.68 6.71 6.71
PRODUCTION 5.16 5.91 6.18 6.38 6.44
PRODUCTIVITY 857.00 891.00 925.15 950.82 950.82
TOTAL FOOD AREA 76.06 76.47 72.09 71.28 71.28
GRAIN PRODUCTION 103.21 100.58 96.76 99.34 101.17
PRODUCTIVITY 1357.00 1315.29 1342.21 1393.66 1419.33
III. OILSEEDS
SOYBEAN AREA 4.15 4.15 3.88 3.89 3.89
PRODUCTION 3.41 3.31 3.14 3.21 3.25
PRODUCTIVITY 822.00 799.00 809.28 825.19 825.19
RAPESEED & AREA 5.76 5.80 5.88 6.00 6.00
MUSTARD PRODUCTION 3.93 3.79 3.95 4.23 4.28
PRODUCTIVITY 684.00 653.45 671.77 700.00 700.00

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 OTHER OIL AREA 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.06 0.06
SEEDS PRODUCTION 0.03 0.04 0.04 0.03 0.03
PRODUCTIVITY 425.00 500.00 500.00 500.00 500.00
TOTAL OIL AREA 9.99 10.03 9.84 9.95 9.95
SEEDS PRODUCTION 7.38 7.15 7.13 7.47 7.56
PRODUCTIVITY 739.00 712.86 724.59 750.75 759.80

CROPS PARTICULARS 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09

I.CEREALS
1.PADDY AREA 14.74 14.15 14.00 13.00
PRODUCTION 22.69 21.45 22.85 22.23
PRODUCTIVITY 1539.35 1515.90 1632.14 1709.23
2.WHEAT AREA 5.74 6.38 4.45 3.90
PRODUCTION 9.20 10.36 4.46 3.50
PRODUCTIVITY 1602.79 1623.82 1002.25 874.43
3.MAIZE AREA 36.70 40.85 39.10 39.20
PRODUCTION 61.10 64.89 62.56 65.74
PRODUCTIVITY 1664.85 1588.49 1600.00 1677.04
4.BARLEY AREA 1.23 1.15 0.71 0.50
PRODUCTION 1.59 1.27 0.66 0.47
PRODUCTIVITY 1292.68 1104.35 929.58 930.00
5.B/WHEAT AREA 2.01 2.04 2.04 5.54
PRODUCTION 1.64 1.79 1.79 5.35
PRODUCTIVITY 815.92 877.45 877.45 965.52
6.FINGER MILLET AREA 4.15 4.14 3.76 3.76
PRODUCTION 3.78 3.90 3.53 3.53
PRODUCTIVITY 910.84 942.03 938.83 940.00
TOTAL CEREALS AREA 64.57 68.71 64.06 65.90
PRODUCTION 100.00 103.66 95.85 100.82
PRODUCTIVITY 1548.71 1509.76 1496.25 1529.89
II. PULSES
1.URD AREA 3.87 3.55 3.55 3.22
PRODUCTION 2.98 2.78 3.11 2.82
PRODUCTIVITY 770.03 783.10 875.21 880.00
2.OTHER PULSES AREA 2.93 2.41 2.51 2.68
PRODUCTION 3.78 2.67 2.78 2.97
PRODUCTIVITY 1290.10 1107.88 1107.57 1110.00
TOTAL PULSES AREA 6.80 5.96 6.06 5.88
PRODUCTION 6.76 5.45 5.89 5.79
PRODUCTIVITY 994.12 914.44 971.45 984.69
TOTAL FOOD GRAIN AREA 71.37 74.67 70.12 71.78
PRODUCTION 106.76 109.11 101.74 106.61
PRODUCTIVITY 1495.87 1461.23 1450.90 1485.23
III. OILSEEDS
1.SOYBEAN AREA 3.89 3.69 3.60 3.60
PRODUCTION 3.40 3.23 3.15 3.16
PRODUCTIVITY 874.04 875.33 875.00 880.00

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2.RAPE & MUSTARD AREA 6.00 5.28 5.00 5.30
PRODUCTION 4.50 4.06 4.32 4.45
PRODUCTIVITY 750.00 768.84 864.00 840.00
TOTAL OIL SEEDS AREA 9.95 8.97 8.60 8.90
PRODUCTION 7.95 7.29 7.47 7.61
PRODUCTIVITY 798.99 812.71 868.60 855.05

CROPS PARTICULARS 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

I. CEREALS
1.PADDY AREA 12.27 12.14 12.00 11.92
PRODUCTION 20.93 20.97 21.08 21.34
PRODUCTIVITY 1705.79 1727.63 1757.00 1790.27
2.WHEAT AREA 5.20 2.65 2.50 0.52
PRODUCTION 4.72 2.71 2.65 0.55
PRODUCTIVITY 907.69 1022.68 1060.00 1057.69
3.MAIZE AREA 39.50 40.17 40.17 39.97
PRODUCTION 64.69 66.19 67.52 67.97
PRODUCTIVITY 1637.72 1647.82 1680.85 1700.03
4.BARLEY AREA 1.00 0.64 0.65 0.59
PRODUCTION 0.92 0.61 0.63 0.59
PRODUCTIVITY 920.00 951.10 965.52 1000.00
5.B/WHEAT AREA 5.54 4.39 5.00 3.56
PRODUCTION 5.07 4.06 4.72 3.38
PRODUCTIVITY 915.16 924.03 945.00 949.44
6.FINGER AREA 4.25 3.00 3.50 2.98
MILLET PRODUCTION 4.18 2.89 3.45 2.96
PRODUCTIVITY 983.53 964.33 985.71 993.29
TOTAL AREA 67.76 62.99 63.82 59.54
CEREALS PRODUCTION 100.51 97.43 100.15 96.77
PRODUCTIVITY 1483.32 1546.83 1569.26 1625.29
II. PULSES
1.URD AREA 3.60 3.70 3.70 3.27
PRODUCTION 3.03 3.21 3.24 2.91
PRODUCTIVITY 841.67 867.30 877.00 890.00
2.OTHER AREA 2.90 3.00 3.08 3.10
PULSES PRODUCTION 3.03 2.77 2.87 2.92
PRODUCTIVITY 1044.83 922.30 932.00 941.94
TOTAL PULSES AREA 6.50 6.70 6.78 6.37
PRODUCTION 6.06 5.98 6.11 5.83
PRODUCTIVITY 932.31 891.93 901.18 915.23
TOTAL FOOD AREA 74.26 69.69 70.60 65.91
GRAIN PRODUCTION 106.57 103.41 106.26 102.60
PRODUCTIVITY 1435.09 1483.64 1505.10 1556.67

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 III. OILSEEDS
1.SOYBEAN AREA 4.20 4.20 4.20 3.86
PRODUCTION 3.65 3.75 3.82 3.61
PRODUCTIVITY 869.05 892.48 910.00 935.23
2.RAPE & AREA 5.80 5.26 5.30 4.38
MUSTARD PRODUCTION 4.55 4.16 4.29 3.50
PRODUCTIVITY 784.48 791.54 810.00 799.09
TOTAL OIL AREA 10.00 9.46 9.50 8.24
SEEDS PRODUCTION 8.20 7.91 8.11 7.11
PRODUCTIVITY 820.00 836.35 853.68 862.86

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 ANNEXURE- II

Traditional agro-forestry systems of Sikkim

Agro-ecological Agro-forestry systems Dominant tree / grass Crops / animals

zone and altitude species
Sub-tropical (300 to Agri-horticultural Sikkim mandarin, Maize, ginger,
900 m amsl) to avocado turmeric, Buckwheat,
Midhill temperate mustard, pulses,
(900 to 1800 m beans, finger millet,
amsl) potato, vegetables,
mushroom, Passion
fruit, gladiolus,
tuberose, marigold,
orchids

Agri-horti-pastoral Sikkim mandarin, guava, Maize, ginger,

banana, avocado, lemon, turmeric, tapioca,
gooseberry, Ficus sp., Buckwheat, wheat,
Broom grass, Dalpizium pulses, oilseeds, beans,
sp. and other ferns oat, millets, rice,
vegetables

Agri-silvi-pastoral Alnus nepalensis, Schima Maize, wheat, pulses,

wallichii, Prunus Buckwheat, oilseeds,
cerasoides, Terminalia beans, finger millet
myriocarpa, Castonopsis
tribuloides, Litsea
polyantha, Macranga
denticulata, Ficus sp.,
Broom grass, ferns

Horti-silviculture Alnus nepalensis, Schima Large cardamom

wallichii, Macranga (Amomum subulatum
pustulata, Albizzia sp., Roxb.)
Machilus edulis, Saurauia
nepalensis, Terminalia
myriocarpa, Juglans regia

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 Agri-horti-silvipastoral Sikkim mandarin, Ficus
sp., avocado, pears, amla,
guava, Juglans regia,
Schima wallichii, Prunus
cerasoides, Broom grass
Livestock-based mixed Arundinaria sp., Setaria
farming sp., Cynodon sp., Cyperus
sp., Saccharum sp., Ficus
sp., Erythrina
arborescens, Agave sp.,
Prunus cerasoides, Urtica
sp., Artemisia sp., millets
Sericulture-based Morus laevigata,
farming Terminalia sp.
Bamboo-based farming Chimonobambusa sp.,
Dendrocalamus sp.,
Bambusa sp.,
Drepanostachyum
intermedium,
Himalayacalamus
falconeri, Phyllostachys
bambusoides
Homesteads Sikkim mandarin, lime,
Ficus sp., tree tomato
(Cyphomandra betaceae),
guava, pear, pomelo,
papaya, pomegranate,
avocado, banana, Urtica
sp., Artemisia sp.,
Moringa sp., Mangifera
sp.
Tea plantation Thea sinensis, Prunus
cerasoides (one State
Government plantation
Temperate zone Agri-horticultural Sikkim mandarin, apple
(1800 to 2700 m
amsl)
Horti-silvi-pastoral Sikkim mandarin, apple,
Juglans regia, Alnus
nepalensis, Prunus
nepalensis, Quercus sp.,
Betula alnoides, Acer sp.,
Hippophae salicifolia
Maize, tapioca, ginger,
vegetables, beans,
pulses, oilseeds
Cattle, pig, poultry,
goat
Pulses, oilseeds, Broom
grass, millets, oat
Tender bamboo shoots
collected, ginger,
turmeric, large
cardamom, rice bean
(up to 11 to 15 m from
bamboo rows)
Vegetables, Passion
fruit, gladiolus,
tuberose, marigold,
orchids, sugarcane, pig,
poultry, cattle, goats,
ducks, wild edibles –
ferns, nettles, fishery,
mushroom, apiary
Potato (table and
seed), maize, barley,
rice, Buckwheat,
radish, cabbage,
cauliflower, Brassica
sp. (Raya saag)
Maize, millets, large
cardamom, potato
(table and seed), peas,
cabbage, cauliflower,
beans, radish
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 Livestock-based mixed Betula uitlis, Acer sp., Goats, pig, sheep,
farming Imperata cylindrica, poultry, nomadic herds
Arundinella sp., Avena of yak (dzo’s)
sp., Elusine sp., Setaria
sp., Rubus sp., Viburnum
erubescens, Berberis sp.,
Urtica sp., Artemisia sp.

Sub-alpine (2700 to Horti-pastoral- Quercus sp., Acer sp.,
4000 m amsl) transhumance Betula utilis, Sorbus sp.,
Carex sp., Trisetum sp.,
Eragrotis sp., Aralia sp.,
Allium sp., Iris sp.,
Radish, peas, potato,
beans, maize, cabbage,
cauliflower, Brassica
sp. (Raya saag), yaks
(dzo’s), sheep, goats,
mules

Alpine (> 4000 m Livestock-based mixed Poa sp., Agrostis sp., Potato, cabbage, peas,
amsl) farming (beyond Carex sp., Gentiana sp., Brassica sp. (Raya
timberline)- Rumex sp., Phlomis saag), yaks (dzo’s),
transhumance rotata, Urtica dioca sheep and mules
Source: Field survey 1995-2002

ANNEXURE-
III
Availability and production potential of rural compost in Sikkim

Domestic Population Faecal Annual Loss of faecal Faecal material

animals of domestic matter production of material due actually
animal (kg day-1) faecal matter to grazing on available to the
(Nos.) (Lakh tonnes) non- crops
agricultural (Lakh tonnes)
land (%)
Cattle 195327 8.00 5.70 40 3.240
Buffaloes 1970 10.00 0.07 40 0.042
Goat and 87961 0.50 0.16 75 0.040
sheep
Horses, 5436 6.00 0.12 100 Nil
mules and
donkeys
Yaks 4781 6.00 0.10 100 Nil
Pigs 26975 4.00 0.39 60 0.234
Poultry 221406 0.05 0.04 60 0.024
Total production of faecal matter 6.58 43 3.760

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Faecal material available for composting 3.760
Refuse, litter and other wastes (20% of the net faecal material)
0.752
Total undecomposed rural compost and litter
4.512
Net well decomposed rural compost at 30 % recovery level (70 per cent moisture)
1.3536
Net cultivated area of the state 62042.5
ha
Availability of well decomposed rural compost material ha-1 net area
2.18 t ha-1
Nutrient availability through FYM/compost ha-1 22 : 9 : 22 NPK ha-1

Source: Anonymous

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