GANGTOK, : After a long wait, farmers in Sikkim may finally find relief from the
diseases affecting cardamom cultivation.
In
the past, Sikkim generated significant income from large cardamom farming, a
major cash crop for the local farmers. However, due to diseases affecting the
plant, farmers faced severe difficulties in cardamom cultivation and
production. Despite repeated efforts, farmers were unable to fully revive
cardamom farming, and large cardamom plantations in Sikkim gradually turned
barren.
Still,
some farmers continued cardamom cultivation in certain areas, although they did
not achieve the desired yields. Amidst this situation, two young inventors from
Raban, Karma Sherpa Bhutia and Bhawani Gurung, sent soil samples and cardamom
plants from Sikkim to specialized laboratories outside the State to identify
the disease. In consultation with relevant technologists, they developed a set
of five bio-medicines targeting the viruses affecting large cardamom plants.
About
four to five months ago, they brought the medicines to Sikkim and conducted
trials on the agriculture field of local farmer Krishna Bahadur Chettri at Famthang
under Borong GPU in Barfung constituency, South Sikkim. Although sceptical,
Chettri agreed to apply the medicine on his 'Seremna' variety of cardamom.
Gradually, the medicine showed positive results, with new shoots emerging from
the plants.
Chettri,
observing the improvement in his cardamom production, expressed gratitude
toward the two young inventors, saying he felt like the fortunes of poor
farmers were turning around.
Similarly,
according to the inventors and farmers, Karma Sherpa Bhutia himself has been a
long-time cardamom grower. After struggling with various cardamom diseases, he
and Bhawani Gurung took the initiative to find a solution, leading to the
development of the medicine.
Bhawani
mentions that they achieved success after carefully testing the medicine not
only on Krishna Bahadur Chettri’s farm but also on others.
For
now, the young inventors have not disclosed the name of the laboratory where
the tests were conducted or the names of the medicines. However, they have
stated that they will officially brand and introduce it at the right time.
Seeing
the success of these young farmers' efforts, hopes are rising for the revival
of cardamom farming in Sikkim. It appears that the once-barren plantations may
soon flourish again with cardamom crops, bringing smiles to farmers' faces and
greenery to the State.
