Large Cardamom farming on the verge of extinction in the Sikkim Himalaya

By: Privat Giri, Published in Sikkim Times

The research conducted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) on the disease problem of large cardamom has indeed not helped the farmers in Sikkim to preserve their native cardamom farm and to overcome their only means of livelihood. The study was carried out with regard to the problem addressed by the Horticulture Department, Sikkim Government to the Dy Director General (Hort.), ICAR, New Delhi. The team of experts in its report advised the farmers to avoid the use of infected planting material and also recommended a pesticide to be used as a preliminary solution. However, even after the use of uninfected planting materials, the farmers are not being able to prevent their farm from this fatal unidentified disease. On the other hand, the use of pesticide has not gained wide acceptance among the farmers who still hold great faith in their traditional techniques of farming. They opine that the pesticide would pollute their water resources and is harmful for their animals who feed from the same land.

 Presently, there are approximately sixteen thousand growers of large cardamom in Sikkim among which thirty percent are totally dependent on this crop. It covers around 26 thousand hectares of land under cultivation.  As per the official figures, the production and export had surpassed a record of five thousand metric tons. The bulk of the produce is exported to Gulf and Central Asian countries and Pakistan and earns huge foreign exchange for India. Mainly on this ground, Sikkim is fondly known as the ‘land of spices’ in the world arena. But in recent times, the production has been declining drastically though substantive efforts are being undertaken especially by the farmers to overcome the crisis. The Spices Board of India is providing financial assistance for constructing nurseries so that the growers could collect uninfected saplings for replantation. If the similar trend continues for next couple of decades, it will have an enormous impact on the economy of not only Sikkim but also India. Besides the destiny of the thousands of cardamom growers will be at stake.

 The farmers in the villages of the Ravangla sub-division say that the diseases namely ‘Chirkey’ and ‘Furkey’ are common and are not so as destructive as this newly arrived viral disease (the villagers call it ‘Paheley’).  How assuredly the researchers affirm this as a viral disease is unknown. The condition is so severe that the growers who were contributing approximately three hundred kilograms of fruit in the market before 4-5 years have nothing to sell this year.  So as a final solution, the farmers are presently planning to burn the entire farm, keep it barren for some years and do replantation.They have now come across a collective conclusion that the problem lies not with the planting material but the farm itself. And by burning the farm, they hope to wipe out whatever viruses present. The successful cultivation of cardamom by some of the farmers in their normal agricultural farm confirms their assumption.

Therefore, the primary concern is to probe into the variable which can be held accountable for ruining the fate of these cardamom growers. Keeping all those complicated macro scientific discourses (eg: global warming) aside and just evaluating in micro terms, cardamom is best grown under the shade of forest trees. This is the only reason why initially when our ancestors started Cardamom farming in Sikkim, they opted to cultivate it in the jungles. Forest tree covers the plant from frost, hail storms and also direct sunlight which are very injurious to plants during flowering. It is equally pertinent to recognize that Cardamom thrives in moist soil. Therefore, the tree shade helps the farm to retain its moisture and protects it from getting dry. Hence considering all those factors mentioned above which are very vital for the survival of this plant: Is it reasonable to presume that the falling number of trees (rapid deforestation) in the Cardamom farms in Sikkim is liable for this entire crisis? Deforestation minimizes the ability of the farm to retain its moisture which leads to dryness of the land and change in temperature patterns. Change in temperature patterns facilitates change in habitats. Plants, animals, birds and insects previously living there will seek new place suitable for their survival and is replaced by other new species of living beings. Like other species, even the cardamom plant will not be able resist the changing climatic conditions and new varieties of insects with which it is not accustomed to.

Under such circumstances, the fundamental duty of the parties concerned (whether Government or NGOs) is to generate awareness among the farmers about the basic essential requirements for cardamom cultivation rather than confusing them by giving complex scientific term to the disease(viral), which they will never understand. Cutting of trees covering their farm should be discouraged. Comprehensive planning should be formulated for repositioning the already deteriorating condition of the farm and rehabilitate temporarily those thousands of farmers who are directly dependent on this profession. Else in future, Sikkim not only has to bear the burden all these sixteen thousand farmers engaged in cardamom farming but also has to part way with its brand image... ”The Land of Spices”.