Hon’ble Union Minister of Agriculture and Food Processing Industries respected Shri Sharad Pawarji; Hon’ble Speaker Sikkim Legislative Assembly, Ministers of Agriculture from North-Eastern States; my Cabinet Colleagues; Parliamentary Secretaries, Union Secretaries, Secretary North East Council, Principal Secretaries and Secretaries of the North Eastern States; distinguished officers from Government of India; officers from North-eastern States; distinguished guests, media persons; ladies and gentlemen,
At the outset, I take the privilege of extending my warm greetings and hearty welcome to Hon’ble Union Minister and all the delegates to the Land of Orchids and a State known for its peaceful ambience, neat and clean and one of the most progressive in the Country. The North East endowed with immense natural resources with similar climatic variation and a gateway to the South East Asian Nations, is well positioned to play significant role in market extension, product diversification and knowledge sharing with the rest of the Country and the World. As we come together to deliberate on the agriculture scenario in the North East, we utilize this opportunity to evolve common strategies to promote the North East region as a composite entity to develop this sector for a common goal and outcome.
And present with us today is respected Pawar-ji, Union Minister of Agriculture, himself an avid agriculturist and a distinguished national leader, to support our cause and overcome some specific problems we face while promoting this sector in the region. I join all of you to thank him for sparing his valuable time to be with us today.
The significance of agriculture in Indian economy needs no further explanation. You are aware that Sikkim joined the mainstream much late and was not part of the country’s development saga as in the case of other States. And in the overall context of the North East, the region also lagged behind in mainstreaming of agriculture and allied sectors. However, people in the region are more dependent on land, forest and its resources for their livelihood, and as such the present Conference has added significance for the region.
Sikkim is a land blessed by Mother Nature with bountiful resources. Recognized as one of the biodiversity hotspots, the region hosts diverse forms of flora and fauna with approximately 4,500 species of flowering plants in the State. The climate is highly varied with wide ranging agro-ecological situations varying from sub-tropical in the lower valleys to alpine in higher elevations.
In spite of limited cultivable land area, agriculture and horticulture continue to dominate the rural economy with over 65% of the people directly or indirectly being dependent for their livelihood on land resources. Our primary strength lies in highly developed mountain agriculture system inherited from the age old wisdom of our forefathers. Due to variety of reasons and small land holdings, agricultural activities need to be further expanded and diversified in the State to come out of the subsistence level.
Under Agriculture, the State Government has scaled up initiatives to attain higher level of growth. Various programmes have been launched in adequate measure to promote these sectors to their fullest potential by providing the most enabling environment for sustainable growth. The unstinted support of the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India under various schemes have always played critical role in the transformation of these sectors giving much needed boost. I take this opportunity to record our sincere thanks and gratitude for all the support from the Central Ministry. It is with generous support from the Central Ministry that we have accomplished many success stories in the field of off-season vegetables, floriculture, protected cultivation, fruits and spices, cereals and pulses.
With protection of fragile Himalayan ecology in mind, the State Government has adopted organic policy by launching Sikkim Organic Mission to make Sikkim a fully Organic State by 2015. Environmental security, product branding, health safety and enhancement in farm returns are some of the important objectives of this challenging decision, now converted into our flagship programme. We are working in the farm and off the farm to make Sikkim organic. The process of organic certification of our land is going on together with extensive training for our farmers and officials. We are also building up awareness programme across the State among all the stakeholders with effective shift from use of chemical fertilizers to organic manure.
We are happy that the Union Minister Shri Sharad Pawar-ji has kindly released the book “Organic Sikkim-Leading the Change” written by Dr. Tej Partap and Dr. CS Vaidya a short while ago, appreciating our leadership in organic field.
With Floriculture emerging as a major sector having tremendous scope for commercialization, we are focusing on Cymbidium orchid which is our natural strength. I also take the privilege to share our pride with the visiting dignitaries that the Cymbidium hybrid which has become a multi-billion dollar industry today, the first mother plant was taken from Sikkim.
For providing the much-needed impetus to the emerging cymbidium industry, Chief Minister’s Special Orchid Development Programme in 18 constituencies has been launched which has benefited our farmers and the educated youths. The programme needs further expansion and consolidation with import of first release hybrid mother plants which in the coming years shall establish Sikkim as a major grower in the national and international sphere. We have formulated an ambitious plan for an Integrated Development of Orchid which, in the long run, could become a model for others.
Sikkim is a natural home for growing orchid and other species of flowers. In fact, Floriculture is being developed on top priority in the State, to be promoted as the new occupation of the Sikkimese people. We have been successful to a great extent as large numbers of our people spread across the State are today engaged in the floriculture activities. We are moving ahead with a mission mode to be just as efficient as Holland in the production and marketing of flower in the Country and abroad. Therefore, the Central Government is requested to further support us in our endeavour.
As part of the convergence initiatives, the State government has introduced the scheme of providing minimum support price in vegetables, transport subsidy for vegetables upto Siliguri and for flowers to any destination within the country. In order to add special thrust on the development of marginalized farmers of the State, the government identified dry, backward and remote areas. Special programme have been devised to uplift the farmers in these villages by providing suitable incentives and technology support.
Further, being a bio-diversity hotspot, Sikkim provides a unique landscape to utilize the indigenous species for breeding programmes to evolve hybrids of different crops suited to Himalayan climate. Developing such varieties would ensure more resilience to climatic uncertainties and its adverse effect.
There are certain common areas where the North Eastern region may seek the generous intervention of the Union Minister with special package to tackle food security issue and sustainability of mountain farming system. Based on inherent strengths of each State, we need to form a large network of cold chain system, bring about farm mechanization, more liberal crop insurance policy, protected cultivation, water harvesting and micro irrigation etc.
With the potential of its immeasurable wealth ideal for growth and development of agriculture, horticulture and floriculture crops, the State Government would seek kind indulgence of the Hon’ble Union Minister to the many initiatives undertaken by us. I would specifically flag off the following areas of activities and confident of your blessing and assistance to carry forward our program in the interest of the farming community in the State.
1. Establishment of Horticulture College: The establishment of Horticulture College in Sikkim would provide a large institutional support with promotion of research studies to augment and diversify our activities under this sector. Therefore, I am sure that the proposal already forwarded to the central ministry will receive highest consideration by the Hon’ble Union Minister for positive outcome. The State Government shall be glad to provide suitable land which is available.
2. Sikkim Institute of Food Technology: The farmers of Sikkim generate various agricultural, horticultural and animal-origin produce which, on majority of cases, does not fetch the farmer desirable monetary returns. This situation is just suitable for the creation of a facility for post-harvest technology and value addition. The facility may be called Sikkim Institute of Food Technology (SIFT) – a Centre of Excellence with facilities including Physical Grading Centre, Food Processing Laboratory, Food Micro-biology Laboratory, Food Analysis Laboratory, Quality Control and Assurance Laboratory, Nano-technology Application Laboratory, Packaging Research Facility, Market Research Centre, Business and Farmers’ Assistance Centre etc. Besides developing wide range of premium quality processed food products, it will also be the Centre of frontier research in this niche area being unique in the entire North East region and also generate employment for the highly qualified young professional of Sikkim.
The Institute could be an independent entity or a Centre of Excellence within the proposed College of Horticulture.
3. Cold Chain System: With the allied agriculture sector being thrust area of the government, the famers in Sikkim are now producing marketable surplus in the field which cannot be consumed locally. Therefore, the Government has planned an Electronic Auction Centre and integrated pack houses under APEDA. To support the programme and for successful implementation, cold chain system is extremely necessary. A project has been drawn to install cold chain facilities right from farm gate to the terminal market. Therefore, support for laying of cold chain system in the State has also been proposed.
For this purpose, 22 number of multi-facility cold storage at primary collection centres and four district level processing units and adequate number of refrigeration plants have been proposed for which a sum of Rs.32.00 crores has been estimated.
4. Re-designation of ICAR to NRC Organic Farming: As Sikkim is the first State to go organic in totality, the Government has submitted proposal to the Central Ministry with request to re-designate the present ICAR Centre at Tadong as National Research Centre in Organic Farming. Due to scarcity of land, may I also take this opportunity to request the Union Minister to spare the surplus land available with ICAR at Tadong, Gangtok for building of range of infrastructural facilities for our farmers. The State Government will be grateful to the Union Ministry for the same.
5. Integrated Development of Orchid: Cymbidium is indigenous to Sikkim and many a first generation hybrids of Cymbidium world over was developed from the mother plants taken from Sikkim. Therefore, taking advantage of the conducive natural atmosphere, Sikkim has embarked on the development of Cymbidium in a big way besides development of other floriculture crops. Sikkim is the only State which has taken Cymbidium for commercial cultivation systematically with an eye for the international market. The Government has drawn an ambitious plan for development of Cymbidium and other tropical orchids covering 2000 educated youths in the next 5 years.
A sum of Rs. 60.00 crores has been estimated spread over a period of four years to achieve the objective which is required to provide tissue culture planting material to farmers, construction of green houses, training and input support and host of other related facilities.
6. Rejuvenation of Large Cardamom: The Large Cardamom is indigenous to Sikkim which suffered a major setback. Due to terminal viral disease, production of large cardamom has come down drastically. This may need a combined effort from various agencies including ICAR, Spices Board and the Horticulture Department. A huge re-plantation and rejuvenation programme is required to retrieve the lost glory of Sikkim as the biggest producer of Large Cardamom which is mostly exported to other countries. It is estimated that we would require a sum of Rs.25.00 crores spread over a period of 5 years to take up massive re-plantation and rejuvenation work of Large Cardamom.
7. Special Package for Organic Farming: Since, Sikkim will become the first fully organic State in the Country, the Government of India is requested to provide a special package of Rs. 100 crores to boost the ongoing programme. Agriculture requires organic inputs in the form of bio-fertilizers and manure. I may state that Sikkim’s withdrawal from the use of chemical fertilizers implies that it no longer avails associated subsidies. To provide alterative to farmers, rural compost units and vermi-compost units are being constructed. More investment is necessary on these inputs to achieve the State’s Organic Mission.
8. Mega Food Park: The Central Ministry has been pleased to sanction establishment of one Mega Food Park for the State of Sikkim. However, due to scarcity of land certain existing guidelines may be relaxed for State like Sikkim. The 50 acres of land required may be made 30 acres due to the land terrain which the State Government will arrange as per guidelines of the Ministry.
The State Government has also represented to the Hon’ble Union Minister for construction of one Abattoir each in South and North Sikkim. Hon’ble Sir, we are confident of positive outcome.
In view of the emerging global challenges of climate change and its impact on our eco-system, dedicated research aimed at evolving location specific technologies is necessary. What we generally observe is that our farming practices has largely remained archaic, say some 300 years old, following seasonal farming practices. Annual cycle of sowing, reaping and harvesting largely depends on Nature. And many a time, it is influenced by erratic monsoon, lack of or excessive rainfall and other forms of natural phenomena. This puts us again at the mercy of nature and farm production is good only when climate is favourable. Hence, given the global trend, we may ask ‘would traditional farming methodology still hold good? can we make our farming practices economically sustainable?
Therefore, with all these in mind and recent development regionally, nationally and internationally we adopted organic farming. In the world elsewhere, they are augmenting farming output by creating artificial environment, creating congenial environment for off-season agricultural products.
With excessive dependency on Nature alone, we may not be able to harness our full potential. Therefore, as per changed circumstances and change in natural condition, we may need to strike a fine balance between nature and application of science and technology into our farmland. This we can accomplish by making rational use of available scientific tools and mechanism to undertake off-seasonal cultivation and make our agricultural activities round-the-year engagement.
This is the need of the hour. If we also adopt similar technique, we can be a leading country in the world where the majority of people are dependent on agricultural activities. And in the same context, the North East states can effectively come together to finalize strategies to develop this region into an Organic Zone, Floriculture Zone, Horticulture Zone and Apiculture Zone etc.
At the end, I would like to once again extend my warm welcome to the Hon’ble Union Minister and all delegates of the Conference and express my sincere thanks and gratitude for having chosen Sikkim as the venue for this historical event. I am confident that the outcome of the deliberations that is to follow will surely make larger impression on the overall agriculture, horticulture and floriculture output in the region.
With these words, I wish all of you a very comfortable stay in Sikkim and wish the Conference a grand success.
Thank you
Jai Hind
At the outset, I take the privilege of extending my warm greetings and hearty welcome to Hon’ble Union Minister and all the delegates to the Land of Orchids and a State known for its peaceful ambience, neat and clean and one of the most progressive in the Country. The North East endowed with immense natural resources with similar climatic variation and a gateway to the South East Asian Nations, is well positioned to play significant role in market extension, product diversification and knowledge sharing with the rest of the Country and the World. As we come together to deliberate on the agriculture scenario in the North East, we utilize this opportunity to evolve common strategies to promote the North East region as a composite entity to develop this sector for a common goal and outcome.
And present with us today is respected Pawar-ji, Union Minister of Agriculture, himself an avid agriculturist and a distinguished national leader, to support our cause and overcome some specific problems we face while promoting this sector in the region. I join all of you to thank him for sparing his valuable time to be with us today.
The significance of agriculture in Indian economy needs no further explanation. You are aware that Sikkim joined the mainstream much late and was not part of the country’s development saga as in the case of other States. And in the overall context of the North East, the region also lagged behind in mainstreaming of agriculture and allied sectors. However, people in the region are more dependent on land, forest and its resources for their livelihood, and as such the present Conference has added significance for the region.
Sikkim is a land blessed by Mother Nature with bountiful resources. Recognized as one of the biodiversity hotspots, the region hosts diverse forms of flora and fauna with approximately 4,500 species of flowering plants in the State. The climate is highly varied with wide ranging agro-ecological situations varying from sub-tropical in the lower valleys to alpine in higher elevations.
In spite of limited cultivable land area, agriculture and horticulture continue to dominate the rural economy with over 65% of the people directly or indirectly being dependent for their livelihood on land resources. Our primary strength lies in highly developed mountain agriculture system inherited from the age old wisdom of our forefathers. Due to variety of reasons and small land holdings, agricultural activities need to be further expanded and diversified in the State to come out of the subsistence level.
Under Agriculture, the State Government has scaled up initiatives to attain higher level of growth. Various programmes have been launched in adequate measure to promote these sectors to their fullest potential by providing the most enabling environment for sustainable growth. The unstinted support of the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India under various schemes have always played critical role in the transformation of these sectors giving much needed boost. I take this opportunity to record our sincere thanks and gratitude for all the support from the Central Ministry. It is with generous support from the Central Ministry that we have accomplished many success stories in the field of off-season vegetables, floriculture, protected cultivation, fruits and spices, cereals and pulses.
With protection of fragile Himalayan ecology in mind, the State Government has adopted organic policy by launching Sikkim Organic Mission to make Sikkim a fully Organic State by 2015. Environmental security, product branding, health safety and enhancement in farm returns are some of the important objectives of this challenging decision, now converted into our flagship programme. We are working in the farm and off the farm to make Sikkim organic. The process of organic certification of our land is going on together with extensive training for our farmers and officials. We are also building up awareness programme across the State among all the stakeholders with effective shift from use of chemical fertilizers to organic manure.
We are happy that the Union Minister Shri Sharad Pawar-ji has kindly released the book “Organic Sikkim-Leading the Change” written by Dr. Tej Partap and Dr. CS Vaidya a short while ago, appreciating our leadership in organic field.
With Floriculture emerging as a major sector having tremendous scope for commercialization, we are focusing on Cymbidium orchid which is our natural strength. I also take the privilege to share our pride with the visiting dignitaries that the Cymbidium hybrid which has become a multi-billion dollar industry today, the first mother plant was taken from Sikkim.
For providing the much-needed impetus to the emerging cymbidium industry, Chief Minister’s Special Orchid Development Programme in 18 constituencies has been launched which has benefited our farmers and the educated youths. The programme needs further expansion and consolidation with import of first release hybrid mother plants which in the coming years shall establish Sikkim as a major grower in the national and international sphere. We have formulated an ambitious plan for an Integrated Development of Orchid which, in the long run, could become a model for others.
Sikkim is a natural home for growing orchid and other species of flowers. In fact, Floriculture is being developed on top priority in the State, to be promoted as the new occupation of the Sikkimese people. We have been successful to a great extent as large numbers of our people spread across the State are today engaged in the floriculture activities. We are moving ahead with a mission mode to be just as efficient as Holland in the production and marketing of flower in the Country and abroad. Therefore, the Central Government is requested to further support us in our endeavour.
As part of the convergence initiatives, the State government has introduced the scheme of providing minimum support price in vegetables, transport subsidy for vegetables upto Siliguri and for flowers to any destination within the country. In order to add special thrust on the development of marginalized farmers of the State, the government identified dry, backward and remote areas. Special programme have been devised to uplift the farmers in these villages by providing suitable incentives and technology support.
Further, being a bio-diversity hotspot, Sikkim provides a unique landscape to utilize the indigenous species for breeding programmes to evolve hybrids of different crops suited to Himalayan climate. Developing such varieties would ensure more resilience to climatic uncertainties and its adverse effect.
There are certain common areas where the North Eastern region may seek the generous intervention of the Union Minister with special package to tackle food security issue and sustainability of mountain farming system. Based on inherent strengths of each State, we need to form a large network of cold chain system, bring about farm mechanization, more liberal crop insurance policy, protected cultivation, water harvesting and micro irrigation etc.
With the potential of its immeasurable wealth ideal for growth and development of agriculture, horticulture and floriculture crops, the State Government would seek kind indulgence of the Hon’ble Union Minister to the many initiatives undertaken by us. I would specifically flag off the following areas of activities and confident of your blessing and assistance to carry forward our program in the interest of the farming community in the State.
1. Establishment of Horticulture College: The establishment of Horticulture College in Sikkim would provide a large institutional support with promotion of research studies to augment and diversify our activities under this sector. Therefore, I am sure that the proposal already forwarded to the central ministry will receive highest consideration by the Hon’ble Union Minister for positive outcome. The State Government shall be glad to provide suitable land which is available.
2. Sikkim Institute of Food Technology: The farmers of Sikkim generate various agricultural, horticultural and animal-origin produce which, on majority of cases, does not fetch the farmer desirable monetary returns. This situation is just suitable for the creation of a facility for post-harvest technology and value addition. The facility may be called Sikkim Institute of Food Technology (SIFT) – a Centre of Excellence with facilities including Physical Grading Centre, Food Processing Laboratory, Food Micro-biology Laboratory, Food Analysis Laboratory, Quality Control and Assurance Laboratory, Nano-technology Application Laboratory, Packaging Research Facility, Market Research Centre, Business and Farmers’ Assistance Centre etc. Besides developing wide range of premium quality processed food products, it will also be the Centre of frontier research in this niche area being unique in the entire North East region and also generate employment for the highly qualified young professional of Sikkim.
The Institute could be an independent entity or a Centre of Excellence within the proposed College of Horticulture.
3. Cold Chain System: With the allied agriculture sector being thrust area of the government, the famers in Sikkim are now producing marketable surplus in the field which cannot be consumed locally. Therefore, the Government has planned an Electronic Auction Centre and integrated pack houses under APEDA. To support the programme and for successful implementation, cold chain system is extremely necessary. A project has been drawn to install cold chain facilities right from farm gate to the terminal market. Therefore, support for laying of cold chain system in the State has also been proposed.
For this purpose, 22 number of multi-facility cold storage at primary collection centres and four district level processing units and adequate number of refrigeration plants have been proposed for which a sum of Rs.32.00 crores has been estimated.
4. Re-designation of ICAR to NRC Organic Farming: As Sikkim is the first State to go organic in totality, the Government has submitted proposal to the Central Ministry with request to re-designate the present ICAR Centre at Tadong as National Research Centre in Organic Farming. Due to scarcity of land, may I also take this opportunity to request the Union Minister to spare the surplus land available with ICAR at Tadong, Gangtok for building of range of infrastructural facilities for our farmers. The State Government will be grateful to the Union Ministry for the same.
5. Integrated Development of Orchid: Cymbidium is indigenous to Sikkim and many a first generation hybrids of Cymbidium world over was developed from the mother plants taken from Sikkim. Therefore, taking advantage of the conducive natural atmosphere, Sikkim has embarked on the development of Cymbidium in a big way besides development of other floriculture crops. Sikkim is the only State which has taken Cymbidium for commercial cultivation systematically with an eye for the international market. The Government has drawn an ambitious plan for development of Cymbidium and other tropical orchids covering 2000 educated youths in the next 5 years.
A sum of Rs. 60.00 crores has been estimated spread over a period of four years to achieve the objective which is required to provide tissue culture planting material to farmers, construction of green houses, training and input support and host of other related facilities.
6. Rejuvenation of Large Cardamom: The Large Cardamom is indigenous to Sikkim which suffered a major setback. Due to terminal viral disease, production of large cardamom has come down drastically. This may need a combined effort from various agencies including ICAR, Spices Board and the Horticulture Department. A huge re-plantation and rejuvenation programme is required to retrieve the lost glory of Sikkim as the biggest producer of Large Cardamom which is mostly exported to other countries. It is estimated that we would require a sum of Rs.25.00 crores spread over a period of 5 years to take up massive re-plantation and rejuvenation work of Large Cardamom.
7. Special Package for Organic Farming: Since, Sikkim will become the first fully organic State in the Country, the Government of India is requested to provide a special package of Rs. 100 crores to boost the ongoing programme. Agriculture requires organic inputs in the form of bio-fertilizers and manure. I may state that Sikkim’s withdrawal from the use of chemical fertilizers implies that it no longer avails associated subsidies. To provide alterative to farmers, rural compost units and vermi-compost units are being constructed. More investment is necessary on these inputs to achieve the State’s Organic Mission.
8. Mega Food Park: The Central Ministry has been pleased to sanction establishment of one Mega Food Park for the State of Sikkim. However, due to scarcity of land certain existing guidelines may be relaxed for State like Sikkim. The 50 acres of land required may be made 30 acres due to the land terrain which the State Government will arrange as per guidelines of the Ministry.
The State Government has also represented to the Hon’ble Union Minister for construction of one Abattoir each in South and North Sikkim. Hon’ble Sir, we are confident of positive outcome.
In view of the emerging global challenges of climate change and its impact on our eco-system, dedicated research aimed at evolving location specific technologies is necessary. What we generally observe is that our farming practices has largely remained archaic, say some 300 years old, following seasonal farming practices. Annual cycle of sowing, reaping and harvesting largely depends on Nature. And many a time, it is influenced by erratic monsoon, lack of or excessive rainfall and other forms of natural phenomena. This puts us again at the mercy of nature and farm production is good only when climate is favourable. Hence, given the global trend, we may ask ‘would traditional farming methodology still hold good? can we make our farming practices economically sustainable?
Therefore, with all these in mind and recent development regionally, nationally and internationally we adopted organic farming. In the world elsewhere, they are augmenting farming output by creating artificial environment, creating congenial environment for off-season agricultural products.
With excessive dependency on Nature alone, we may not be able to harness our full potential. Therefore, as per changed circumstances and change in natural condition, we may need to strike a fine balance between nature and application of science and technology into our farmland. This we can accomplish by making rational use of available scientific tools and mechanism to undertake off-seasonal cultivation and make our agricultural activities round-the-year engagement.
This is the need of the hour. If we also adopt similar technique, we can be a leading country in the world where the majority of people are dependent on agricultural activities. And in the same context, the North East states can effectively come together to finalize strategies to develop this region into an Organic Zone, Floriculture Zone, Horticulture Zone and Apiculture Zone etc.
At the end, I would like to once again extend my warm welcome to the Hon’ble Union Minister and all delegates of the Conference and express my sincere thanks and gratitude for having chosen Sikkim as the venue for this historical event. I am confident that the outcome of the deliberations that is to follow will surely make larger impression on the overall agriculture, horticulture and floriculture output in the region.
With these words, I wish all of you a very comfortable stay in Sikkim and wish the Conference a grand success.
Thank you
Jai Hind
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