Mountain Agricultural Transformation Processes and Sustainability in the Sikkim Himalayas, India

The present study was undertaken in the northern and southern districts of Sikkim, India, in order to examine the effects of mountain agricultural development processes on livelihood options and their implications on sustainability. Sikkim presents a good example of harnessing a local mountain niche by adopting cardamom farming, which is compatible with the mountain specificities. The purpose of the study was to document the range and quality of livelihood options of households under maize-potato dominated and large cardamom-dominated farming systems and, more specifically, to assess the sustainability of large cardamom farming options. The large cardamom was found to be the most important farming option. Both ecological and economic evidence indicate positive sustainability implications of this cash crop with attributes such as low-volume, high-value, non-perishable; and being less infrastructure intensive, less labour intensive, and less dependent on external inputs. Large cardamom cultivation also provides ecological benefits such as soil conservation, soil fertility maintenance, and extension of forest cover with intact tree biodiversity in the existing farming systems. A number of problems, e.g., viral diseases, inadequate post-harvest technology, and marketing facilities beset the crop. For a majority of the Sikkimese farmers, the sustainability of this crop as a livelihood option is extremely important. Apart from economic considerations, the crop also needs to be protected as a valuable genetic resource. If this crop has to be sustained, it should no longer be neglected and marginalized. Therefore, concerted efforts need to be made on this crop with necessary investments to strengthen physical, institutional, and social infrastructures. The study shows that harnessing local niche by growing large cardamom is consistent with the mountain specificities, and it tends to be sustainable by having positive effects on the quality of life, equity, and the natural resource base.