AGRICULTURE
Sikkim is a land of villages. Agriculture is the main occupation
of the people. Agriculture has an history of its own in Sikkim. By and large, Sikkim's wealth
is derived from agriculture and
forests. The original
inhabitants were not agriculturists. They led a very primitive life.
Gathering of wild
roots, fruits, hunting and fishing were their means of livelihood. When Bhutia people migrated to Sikkim they started a semi pastoral
economy and sedentary farming. They ploughed only the flat pieces of
land available here and there. Settled agriculture stepped into Sikkim only
with the arrival of Nepali immigrants. These sturdy, hardy, energetic and
innovative people cleared large tracts of woodlands and made the land fit
for cultivation.
The nature of the terrain and varied micro
climatic conditions
influence agriculture in Sikkim. Maize, paddy, wheat, barley
and buck wheat are the main cereals grown in Sikkim. Sikkim has the largest
area and the highest production of large cardamom in India. Cardamom and potatoes
are two important cash crops. A special kind of tea much valued by the
connoisseur for its taste and quality is also produced in the state. A government
Tea Estate is being developed in Kewzing in the western part of Sikkim. There is one more tea estate at
Temi. Both these estates extends over an area
of 400 acres. Under horticulture, large quantities of
oranges and apple are raised. Vegetables, pineapple and banana are
other cash crops of Sikkim.
The humid tropical zone foothills of
Southern Sikkim constitute the
maize cultivation belt. Needing high temperatures and good amount of
rainfall, maize is sown in early summer and harvested in September-October.
Maize is an exacting crop and required a good amount of
human labour for thinning and weeding process. To save the
land from soil erosion longitudinal ditches have to be prepared in
Maize fields. Maize is a staple food of this belt. Maize is also used for preparation of
poultry feed and beer.
Paddy is another important crop of Sikkim.
Paddy is a crop mainly of
river valleys. Along river beds the crop is raised with the help of irrigation.
Small channels taken out of the rivers irrigate the surrounding land. On
higher areas where temperature and rainfall conditions permit the
cultivation of paddy, the crop is grown on terraced fields. In
the river bottoms transplantation method has been employed but
on the higher terraced fields broadcasting method is employed. Now
with the assistance of Agriculture Department new high
yielding varieties of paddy are grown on the terraced farms with Japanese
method. Paddy is a summer crop and it is grown every where in the state
except very higher areas and most of the paddy is raised on unirrigated fields.
Because of copious rainfall during its growth period it is possible to
raise paddy on unirrigated fields.
Wheat and barley are winter crops.
Wheat is raised in Southern and Central
Sikkim where temperature and growing period during winter permit
the cultivation of this crop. In areas with short growing period and insufficient
moisture during winter barley and buck wheat are raised. On the soils which are
not fit for paddy or wheat cultivation or
where short growing period does not permit the cultivation of superior
cereals, millets are raised.
Cardamom,
oranges and apples constitute an important part of Sikkim's trade with other parts of the country.
Luscious oranges are grown in the
southern warmer area of the state whereas apple are grown in elevated
areas of Central and Northern Sikkim. Cardamom is a foreign exchange
earner crop also. Therefore special steps are being taken to augment
the production of cardamom.
Agriculture,
horticulture and animal husbandry constitute a
mainstay of the largest segment of Sikkim's population.
Economic
Plans
During the economic plans special efforts were made to develop
agriculture on scientific lines. With the initiation of economic plans an
agriculture department was established to look after the
progress and development of this vital organ of the economy. Improved varieties
of seeds and fertilizers were distributed in all parts of the country and trained
personnel were posted at various places to assist the cultivator in day-to-day matters relating to increased agricultural production.
Pesticides were also distributed in areas where crops suffered from
insects and pests.
Many personnel from Sikkim were trained in different agricultural
research institutes of India. During the second plan a 200 acres
(about 80 hectares )seed multiplication farm for paddy, maize and
vegetables was developed at Gyalshing. Another 150 acres (about 60
hectares) potato seed farm was set up at Ribdi in western Sikkim. Farmer
orientation schemes were accelerated in the third plan. To save the valuable
crops of paddy, maize, cardamom
and oranges from insects and pests an extensive Plant Protection Scheme was
successfully introduced.
The Government of Sikkim passed two acts, one preventing
land-owners from terminating the cultivating rights of the tillers and receiving
more than half of farm produce as share or rent and the other restraining the
land lords from selling or other wise interfering with land. This gives the
tiller of the land a real sense of security
against the menace of the feudal land lords. The Sikkim Government has initiated
a plan of land survey and have also succeeded in procuring S.F.D.A (Small
Farmers Development Authority) project for the entire state.
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