Farmers in Sikkim had long relied on vermicompost and organic manure, and the mountainous terrain made the use of inorganic fertilizers less prevalent than in other Indian states.
Nestled in the shadow of the Himalayan peak Kanchenjunga, the Indian state of Sikkim has quietly achieved what many nations aspire to: a 100% organic farming system. Declared organic in 2016, Sikkim’s transformation has won international acclaim, including the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Future Policy Gold Award in 2018. Yet the state’s journey, while inspirational, also highlights the complexities and challenges of reimagining food production in an era of climate change and biodiversity loss.
RELEVANT SUSTAINABLE GOALS
A Slow, Steady Transition
Sikkim’s success stems from a gradual, pragmatic approach that began in 2003 under then-Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, who gave the state over a decade to phase out chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Unlike Sri Lanka’s abrupt ban on chemical inputs in 2021 — a policy that devastated agricultural output and sparked widespread food insecurity — Sikkim laid a foundation rooted in its existing agricultural traditions.
Farmers in Sikkim had long relied on vermicompost and organic manure, and the mountainous terrain made the use of inorganic fertilizers less prevalent than in other Indian states. In 2004, the state government launched an action plan that paired lofty ideals with practical steps. Subsidies on chemical fertilizers were gradually reduced before a full ban was implemented in 2014.
“We underwent many training modules,” recalls Tsering Bhutia, a farmer in Pelling. “Making fertilizers from cow dung and urine, multi-cropping, and crop rotation were easy and affordable to adopt.”
By 2016, over 75,000 hectares of land were certified organic, and Sikkim was officially declared 100% organic.
Benefits and Challenges
The shift to organic farming has brought measurable environmental benefits. Soil quality and biodiversity have improved, and reports indicate a rebound in bee populations, which have boosted yields of pollinator-dependent crops like cardamom. Rain-fed agriculture has helped conserve water in the resource-scarce Himalayas, and the state’s organic tag has spurred a boom in wellness tourism, with arrivals increasing by 25% since 2016.
Yet challenges remain. Farmers often prioritize cash crops like cardamom, turmeric, and ginger over food crops, driven by the economic need for higher incomes. This has led to reliance on non-organic staples sourced through public distribution systems. A 2022 study by the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) found that 82% of respondents in Sikkim sourced staples like rice from external markets, which were not necessarily organic.
“Farmers are growing more cash crops than food crops,” says ecologist Sarala Khaling of ATREE. “Declining interest in farming among youth, reduced landholdings, and climate uncertainties are exacerbating this trend.”
Lessons from Sikkim’s Unique Model
Sikkim’s organic revolution benefited from unique factors, including low population density, small farm sizes, and a historical preference for organic practices. But these traits also make the model difficult to replicate elsewhere, as demonstrated by Sri Lanka’s failed attempt at a similar transition.
“Sikkim isn’t a failed model, but it isn’t easily replicable either,” says GV Ramanajanegulu of the Center for Sustainable Agriculture. “However, it proves that with political will, governments can transform farming.”
The state’s organic certification infrastructure, including the Sikkim State Organic Certification Agency, and the establishment of model villages were instrumental in the transition. Still, the absence of cold chain infrastructure has hindered the viability of exports, and a lack of focus on agricultural infrastructure has made farming less attractive to younger generations.
Agroecology: Beyond Organic Farming
Experts suggest that the future of sustainable agriculture lies in agroecology, a holistic approach that integrates biodiversity, local food systems, and community livelihoods. Khaling argues that replenishing soil and water resources, supporting local seed banks, and enabling diverse food supply chains could improve the Sikkim model.
“Mountains are a repository of agrobiodiversity and wild edibles,” Khaling says. “These values are being lost when food comes entirely from outside.”
Lead image courtesy of Agroecologynow
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