5 NOV, 2012, 02.54PM IST, DEBASIS SARKAR,ET BUREAU 

Large Cardamom is coming back to its bright days again in Sikkim

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NOVEMBER 2012: After a decade long gloomy spell, the bright days are back for Sikkim's Large Cardamom. The state, considered as Large Cardamom epicenter of the world, is expecting high growth in auction sales of this aromatic spice in 2012-13.

"The glory is coming back after decade long low yield, low quality and low price spell. We expect over 100% growth in sales this year over last year figures. We had a sale of 4 Metric Ton(MT) in 2010-11, the first year of organized sales of large cardamom through open auction. That went up to 16MT in 11-12. This year, this is expected to be around 40 Metric ton. Against Rs 1100/kg average price of last two years, it is expected to reach Rs 1300/kg. Beginning by mid November, the fortnightly auctions will be conducted till June 2012," said Mr P C Roy senior zonal manager Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Cooperation (NERAMAC), an agency under administrative control of GoI's Department of North East Region. NERAMAC operates the only Large Cardamom auction center of India at Rangpo in Sikkim.

Beside 6 available wild varieties, Amomum subulatumis the main traditionally cultured species in Sikkim, the epicenter of India's Large Cardamom arena that produces around 80% of national annual yield. Remaining 20% comes from Darjeeling hills and North East Region. India is the world leader by producing over 50% of global yield.

Beside consuming 1500 to 1800 MT, India is an important exporter of this cash crop mainly to Pakistan, Singapore or Middle East where Sikkim's large Cardamom is the preferred choice due to its distinctive aroma and colour.

But, unorganized import of so called 'high yield' varieties from Bhutan to replace traditionally cultivated varieties at the beginning of last decade imported a wide spread viral disease that had put the cash crop under deep uncertainty for long. Government attention came only after the yield touched rock bottom.

Though the scenario has started changing, lion's share of Sikkim's total yield of around 3200MT is still produced and sold without organized monitoring keeping the risk of similar chaos again alive. Accepting this Mr Roy said, "We are confident to have an entire different view of the picture by next couple of years."

‘Separate-nation demand in Northeast likely by 2018’

source:Indian Express

By Pranav Kulkarni Nov 3, 2012

  

In another six years, there could emerge a demand for a separate nation in the Northeast, said Lt Gen (retired) D B Shekatkar at a defence seminar in the city on Thursday.

“India’s eastern and northeastern regions have been subjected to demographic changes as part of a well thought-off plan by some of our neighbours. This is creating undue pressure on the economy, culture and ethnic balance and is bound to have long-term adverse repercussions on internal security, and economic dimensions. In all likelihood, by 2018, there could be a demand for a separate nation in the northeast,” he said addressing a seminar on Defence Preparedness of India viz a viz China and its impact on Asia.

The two-day seminar had many serving and retired officers of the three Armed Services speaking on the subject. The seminar, conceptualised by India Development Council (IDC) to commemorate 50 years of the India-China war of 1962, began with felicitation of Colonel (retired) Tallury Krishnamohan, Lt Gen (retired) V M Patil and some others who took part in the 1962 war.

An exhibition of photographs of the Sino-Indian conflict was unveiled by Lt Gen V A Bhat, Director-General of Quality Assurance (DGQA).

Shekatkar, national convener, IDC, stressed focus on indegenisation. Speaking on the challenges in India’s integrated national security, Shekatkar listed northeastern insurgency, proliferation of nuclear technology in the hands of non-state actors, Naxalism as some major internal threats to India.

“There are 31 terrorist outfits across the globe, all of which are located within a radius of 1,000 nautical miles from India,” he said.

Shekatkar added that Maoists have already gained a foothold in 12 states. “If immediate steps are not taken, we will be faced with a situation demanding intervention and control by the Indian Army. It is reasonable to assume that Naxalites already have links with Northeast insurgents, and ISI agents in Nepal and Bangladesh.”

Air Marshal (retired) Bhushan Gokhale, former Vice Chief of Air Staff, in his lecture focusing on role of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 1962 listed lack of intelligence assessment as one of the failures of 1962 operations. “Canberra aircraft were potent weapons, and could have been used effectively (in the 1962 operations),” he said.

Gokhale threw light on the istory of the Indian Air Force and its role in ‘taking the war into the enemy territory’.

He showed videos and photographs of air-to-air refuelling, Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to demonstrate IAF capabilities. He also mentioned precision-strike capabilities of the IAF such as by une of Laser Guided Bombs (LGB), used in the Tiger Hill operations.