Climate Resilience of Large Cardamom Cultivars in Sikkim Himalaya: Insights from Participatory MCDM and Indigenous Knowledge of Lepcha Community

Abstract Large cardamom ( Amomum subulatum Roxb.) plays an important role in supporting both the rural livelihoods and ecological balance in the Eastern Himalaya, especially in Sikkim. However, its long-term survival is increasingly at risk due to changing climate patterns, the increase of pests and diseases outbreaks. This study evaluates the climate resilience of six large cardamom cultivars Seremna, Dzongu Golsey, Sawney, Ramsey, Ramla, and Varlangey using a combined approach of Indigenous Knowledge Systems and the Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) method called TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution). Data were gathered through Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools, surveys, and expert consultations with Lepcha farmers from the Dzongu region. Five key criteria were prioritized: productivity, resistance to pests and diseases, lifespan, adaptability to climate, and environmental tolerance. These criteria were weighted and analyzed using TOPSIS to calculate each cultivar’s resilience score. The results show that Seremna is the most climate-resilient cultivar, with a Closeness Coefficient (CCi) of 0.94, performing best across all resilience measures. Dzongu Golsey and Sawney ranked in the middle, while Ramla and Varlangey showed lower resilience. This study highlights the value of community led assessments in identifying climate resilient crops and demonstrates the usefulness of participatory MCDM methods in agroecological planning. By combining traditional ecological knowledge with structured analysis, it presents a flexible and context aware model for promoting climate smart agriculture. The findings also draw attention to a dual vulnerability in the Sikkim Himalaya: the climate sensitivity of large cardamom cultivars and the marginalization of the Lepcha community.