NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON KHARIF CAMPAIGN 2018 Agriculture Department Government of Sikkim Presenter: Smt.S.L.Dorjee Principal Director, FS&ADD

WELCOME TO SIKKIM PIONEER STATE IN ORGANIC FARMING

State profile(Sikkim) Area-7096 sq km Number of districts- 4 Number of subdivisions-16 Number of blocks-31 Number of GPU-185 Number of wards -1136 Marginal farmer- 54.01% i.e.40,476 Nos. Small farmer- 22.60% i.e. 16941 Nos. Medium Farmers-22.33% i.e. 16731 Nos. Large Farmers- 1.06% i.e. 780 Nos. Total area sown-77172.41 ha

Cont. State profile (Sikkim) Organic certified area= 76169.609hac. Current fallow-6813ha Total population-6,07,688 Male - 3,21,661 Female-2,86,027 Average income of farmer = Rs 6798 (NSSO 2014) GDP through Agriculture-12.17% Cropping intensity-189% Seed Replacement Ratio -14-15%

INNOVATIONS All farmers provided with Bank Swipe Cards for DBT at the point of sale (POS/MPCS). Residual Analysis of pesticides in various Agriculture/ Horticulture crop through Reliable Analytical Laboratories, Mumbai - Diagnosed nil residue in all samples. Pico projector available with all extension functionaries for dissemination of new innovated technologies and familiarisation of KCCs at wards/villages through short films. Entrepreneurship Development programme for the unemployed youths through Chief Minister’s start up programme. On Farm production of Bio-pesticides

BEST PRACTICES Mixed cropping:- Maize+ finger millet, Tapioca+ Ginger, Maize+ soybean, Paddy +green Gram Integrated Farming System Crop+Animal husbandry+Fisheries+ Poultry Agro forestry:- Cardamom + tree plantation Planting of Bamboo and fodder trees at the periphery of the crop field.

Cont. BEST PRACTICES Small and marginal farmers are encouraged to take high value and low volume crop such as flowers and vegetables. Round the year vegetable production with use of poly green houses and poly tunnel for early germination of quality seedlings. Self sufficient for needs for vegetables Important programmes are being implemented through convergence with Rural management Development Department. Cluster Approach

Pattern of convergence Agro forestry( Cardamom + Tree Cultivation of seedling under protected condition GUAVA PLANTATION Pattern of convergence Horticulture Department to provide the planting materials , inputs and training RMDD to contribute manpower under MGNREGA Distribution of cows

NEW INITIATIVES Organic Farming along with Organic Input production & Ecotourism Credit linkage through KCC Learning from Farmer to Farmers Zero Tillage Farming Cultivation of forgotten gluten free crops viz quinoa, traditionally grown lesser millets, buckwheat etc. Farm mechanisation:- Distribution of portable power tillers Establishment of bio fertiliser and bio pesticides units. Popularization of drip and sprinkler irrigation. Crop insurance Brand building

PROMOTION OF UNUSED AND FORGOTTEN CROPS BY ATMA Buck wheat Local Pop Corn (Murali) Broom Corn Millet(Sama) Fox Tal Millet(Kaguni) Bakimlo,Bethu Palmate Leaved Yam(Ban Tarul)

Distribution of portable power tiller Farmer teacher teaching through hands on practices Early Composting of biomass using composter On Farm Production of Jeevamrit Distribution of portable power tiller

PROBLEMS & SUGGESTIONS P: High humidity -incidence of diseases and pests . S: Support for subsidy on organic Pesticides from GoI P: Massive Crop damage due to natural calamities (Hail storms) problems of marketing due to land slides S: Support from GOI for Anti Hail net & Facilities for cold storage. P: Grid wise soil testing not feasible for hilly terrain S: Facilities from GOI for soil testing of individual farmers

Cont. PROBLEMS & SUGGESTIONS:- P: Problem of vertebrate Pest (wild animals) S: Inclusion of crops damage by vertebrate Pests in PMFBY P: Railway reservation for Farmers for attending national level exhibition (E/R) S: Timely information necessary from GOI for attending national level exhibition. Special quota for rail reservation for farmers in such cases. P: Farmers unable to meet the requirement of nutrients as per the recommendation made in the SHC S: Subsidy for organic fertilizers as being provided to the other states for inorganic fertilizers by GoI.

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