Sikkim organic horticulture: Scope, challenges and prospects

Sikkim lies in the eastern Himalayas between 27° to 28° North latitude and 88° to 89° east longitudes. Its North border is connecting with the vast stretch of tibetan Plateau, Nepal in the west, Bhutan and Chumbi valley of tibet in the east and Darjeeling District of west Bengal in the South. Sikkim climate varies from the Sub-tropical to the Alpine depending upon the altitude. the populace of Sikkim comprises of 14 hill tribes and many plainsmen communities. According to FIBL & IFoAM year Book 2018, India's rank 9th in terms of world's organic Agricultural land and 1st in terms of total number of producers. During 2017–18, India produced around 1.70 million MT of certified organic products which includes all varieties of food products. Sikkim has distinct advantages of continuing traditional farming and farmers have certain level of knowledge and skills for organic farming. the state possesses range of agro-climatic conditions and unique commodities indigenous to the farming viz., large cardamom, red cherry pepper, cymbidium orchids, ginger, Sikkim mandarin etc. Farmers prefer traditional varieties of crops as these are adapted to the region and superior in quality and taste. The crops are grown mostly in traditional way but farmers are now adopting improved technologies in organic farming system and thus adding value to the crops which hold the promise to become niche commodities for national and international markets.