Sikkim’s bold revival of large cardamom cultivation—spearheaded by the “Mero Alaichi, Mero Dhan” initiative—is a hopeful sign of what science and policy can achieve together. With premier biotech institutes like NIPGR, ICGEB, and IBSD collaborating under the guidance of the Department of Biotechnology, this mission combines cutting-edge research with local wisdom to address the serious decline of Sikkim’s iconic produce.
Once a long-living and dependable cash crop, large cardamom has seen its productive lifespan plummet from 30 years to barely 5–6. This dramatic fall is largely the result of unchecked disease outbreaks like Chirkey and Foorkey, unsustainable monoculture practices, degrading soil health, and the growing shadow of climate change. The fact that a crop that forms the cultural and economic backbone of thousands of Sikkimese farmers had to reach crisis point before attracting national attention is a telling reflection of policy neglect.
The BioE3 Policy—Biotechnology for Economy, Environment & Employment—under which this mission is gaining momentum, promises a paradigm shift. It places farmer welfare at the center of scientific intervention. But as promising as this multi-institutional collaboration is, revival cannot rely solely on lab-led solutions. Biotechnology may provide disease-resistant planting material and soil microbiome management, but without robust extension services, sustainable market access, and protection from climate volatility, such efforts risk becoming top-heavy and disconnected from ground realities.
The baseline surveys and field demonstrations underway are necessary but must be continuous and inclusive. Farmers must be made co-authors of this mission—not passive beneficiaries. The participation of Sikkim University in prioritizing cardamom research is welcome, but the absence of meaningful incentives to retain youth in agriculture remains a glaring gap.
The root causes for the decline in large cardamom production in the state—overreliance on monoculture, weakening traditional practices, and climate resilience—need more attention. The state must resist reducing this mission to a techno-fix. A long-term revival will depend on ecological diversification, community-based seed banks, and agroforestry models that build resilience from below.
It’s heartening that Sikkim’s leadership, including the chief secretary, is closely monitoring the mission. But for “Mero Alaichi, Mero Dhan” to truly succeed, it must grow beyond its scientific promise into a movement that restores not just a spice, but the dignity, autonomy, and future of Sikkim’s farmers.