SIKKIM-UNIQUE AGRO CLIMATE

With unique agro-climate


July 18, 2010 2:58 PM
The Hindu Business Line


Girish Aivalli

Agriculture is the mainstay of majority of rural populace of Sikkim. Its economy is linked with agriculture that serves as the source of livelihood and economic security of sizeable native population. It is estimated that over 80 per cent of the rural population depends on agriculture and allied sectors for economic, food, and nutritional security. With less than 14 per cent land available for productive cultivation, the share of agriculture to gross state domestic product (GSDP) has declined from 48.7 per cent in 1980-81 to just 18.8 per cent in 2006-07.

Performance

The total food production in the State steadily increased from over 61.8 thousand tonnes in 1980-81 to 1.03 lakh tonnes in 1997-98 and 1.06 lakh tonnes in 2008-09. The State that hardly has 79,000 hectares (ha) of net sown area, this range of output is rather very high. Though maize is never a part of the staple food item in Sikkim, its production still contributes over 50 per cent of the total foodgrain production in the State. On the other hand, the share of rice the main food item, in the total food production has been hardly 22 per cent.

The State is deficit in rice production, which is its staple food. Therefore, Sikkim is dependent on import of rice from outside the State. The area coverage by high-yielding variety during 2008-09 is 26,112 ha and the seed replacement ratio has increased in all major crops such as rice, wheat, maize, soyabean and mustard.

Agro-climatic conditions

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, occurrence of hailstorm 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 pests that drastically reduce the crop yields.


These factors certainly cause fall in production and productivity of major crops.

Nevertheless, the root of the problem is in the persistent domination of traditional cultivars in the various crops cultivated from maize to rice and other crops like finger millet, soyabean, buckwheat, toria and others. The systematic intervention made in the State in this field has contributed positively in tackling this traditional menace. The consumption of pesticides/fungicides and other plant protection materials have significantly increased. The State has switched over to integrated pest management concept of plant protection which includes pest monitoring, rapid roving survey, field scouting and agro eco-system analysis. The State bio-control laboratory has also become functional and is now in a position to produce various bio-agents for release in the field.

Horticulture Development

The total horticulture production in the state in 2008-09 was 155.4 thousand tonnes in acreage of 58.715 thousand hectares. Citrus fruits especially oranges contributed to approximately 67 per cent of the total fruits production. The total production of spices was 41.7 thousand tonnes contributing to 26.8 per cent of the total horticulture production. Of the Indian output, almost 88 per cent comes from Sikkim. There are 17 rural markets in Sikkim (6 each in the south and west districts, 4 in the east and only one in the north district). They are largely unorganised and not well frequented, given the low purchasing power of the rural populace. The vast agro-climatic sweep across three major zones allows the production of more than 4,000 varieties of plants and shrubs, and 450 species of orchids.

The cut flowers, which are considered to be a new and upcoming item in the commodity basket of Sikkim, are now being disposed of in the metropolitan cities. Simfed is arranging a tie-up with Himalaya Drug Company, Bangalore, to boost the rural economy through contractual farming with 100 per cent buy-back of the production in chirata, kutki and bojo and other medicinal plants.

Food Processing Scenario

Horticultural produce from Sikkim is usually “exported” in its raw State and, in many cases, processed in other parts of the country. Recently, a few private initiatives, such as processing dalle khorsani into chili paste and pickle, fruit processing into jams and squashes, and marketing of Sikkim Gouda cheese, have been started, but these are small in scale, and mainly marketed locally or in neighbouring areas.

In the process, the State loses out on employment-generating opportunities, income and revenue, both directly from agro-processing as well as from allied activities such as packaging, labelling, and so on. The fruit-processing factory in Singtam was one of the most vital outlets for the orange growers till this factory went sick for many years. The superlative quality of the orange produced in Sikkim – a small, tight-skinned mandarin both fleshy and sweet – and the orange products, whether bottled as a squash, canned as juice, concentrate, marmalade or fruit segments used to be the fastest selling items on the production range. The State has initiated the steps to establish a poultry processing unit at Melli and a poultry estate, the first of its kind, in the entire country, at Mangalbarey on a cooperative basis with progressive farmers.

Animal Husbandry

Animal husbandry is an integral part of the rural household economy of the State. Livestock or poultry-rearing is the major supplementary activity of an estimated 89 per cent of the population. Depending upon the agro-climatic and topographical variations there are broadly two forms of animal husbandry practice in the State.

For people living in higher altitudes (in the north, west, and east districts), such as the Lachungpas, Lachenpas, Gurungs and Sherpas, livestock rearing is the main occupation, and has been so for decades. They rear yaks, sheep, upland cattle and equines, which are mainly fed by grazing. The second and more dominant form of animal husbandry practice is as part of a mixed farming system of the lower and mid-altitudes.

The main occupation is the cultivation of field and horticultural crops, and animals are reared mainly to sustain these activities by acting as a source of farm manure and bullock power. The native cattle of Sikkim are Siri and Siri type but artificial insemination and placing of exotic breeding bulls in veterinary dispensaries and veterinary hospitals have influenced the native type into the crossbred.

Nearly 50 per cent of the population is crossbred the rest are Siri and non-descript type. The marketing of milk and milk products in the State is being done through Sikkim Milk Union Ltd. The activity under dairy development is to revitalise, assist the activities of the present Sikkim Milk Union Ltd to organise dairying in north district.

The main activity includes production enhancement, improve processing and marketing activities, training and extension, manpower development, streamlining procurement activities. The State has recorded the total milk production of 49,000 tonnes in 2008-09.

Poultry farming

Poultry farming is commercially viable and employment oriented activity aimed at perceptible improvement in the economic condition of the rural poor. The Government has created infrastructure for a hatchery-cum-breeding farm of 5,000 layer and 10,000 broiler parent stock in Bermiok, south Sikkim in collaboration with Venkateshwara Hatcheries Ltd, Pune.

Another poultry farm at Kamling, West Sikkim is being established. The State Government has been successful in achieving 100 per cent chicken meat self-sufficiency within the State. In terms of eggs production, the State plans to secure 100 per cent self-sufficiency before the end of the current year.

Sheep rearing

Sheep rearing is a traditional activity amongst people inhabiting the alpine areas of the State whose subsidiary is the carpet and blanket weaving industry. Moreover, there is a growing demand for both mutton and wool in the State, thrust is being given to strengthen the existing infrastructure and continue the ongoing scheme.

Pig husbandry is a very popular and lucrative occupation amongst the local Sikkimese. Two new pig breeding farms at Assam Lingzey and Melli Dara are being set up for increasing the production of piglets in the State.

Sikkim has 28 fish species as indigenous and many are introduced. The important indigenous species are Mahseer, Katli, Asla, Goonch, Gardi etc. The exotic species introduced in Sikkim are brown trout, common carp, grass carp, silver carp and Indian Major Carps.

Organic state

The Government has vowed to make Sikkim a fully organic State by 2015. The State otherwise has been using relatively insignificant quantity of fertiliser and pesticides and it can do away with this in course of few years time. There has been emerging a niche for organic products both in the domestic and international market. Sikkim has the products varying from food to fruits, flowers to cheese and medicinal herbs to drinking water that could cater to the growing organic market.

Various Governmental agencies have already started working towards this. In a move towards reaching the goal of “Organic State”, the subsidy on fertiliser is being tapered and brought to zero. The Department is propagating and advocating farmers to adopt new and modem technology of organic farming system to sustain the production and certification process for certain identified crops.

Sikkim has a unique agro–climatic character for which the agriculture department makes all attempts to bring about sustainable agricultural methods to be utilised to its fullest advantage. The agriculture department, hence, has a policy to implement different schemes under the macro–management of agriculture such as ICDP, INM , NRM and other CSS programmes such as ATMA, NPOF, etc., which has brought about effective advancement in the agricultural sector bringing about an immense impact to the rural farmers of the State.