Exposure tour to Sikkim an eye opener for farmers

A three day exposure tour to Sikkim, one of the premier states in floriculture and cardamom farming was organised by department of agriculture, (Nagaland State Agricultural Marketing Board), with the objective to update the upcoming cardamom farmers and floriculturists in the state.
The tour which concluded on November 19 was led by assistant marketing officer N. Lanu Aier and officer Sazolie, visited Indian Cardamom Research Institute, Spices Board (Ministry of Commerce and Industry) Government of India, Regional Research Station, Tadong, Gangtok where different techniques of cultivating different varieties of cardamom was shown to the team members. The new improvised drying unit of cardamom, which resulted in better quality of dried cardamom than the traditional method of drying over smoke, was also visited. Besides the Research Station, the team visited a few cardamom farms managed by private farmers. The team also visited the Sikkim Himalayan Orchid Ltd. Joint venture company between Natsyn Flora, Chennai and Horticulture and Cash Crop Development Department, Government of Sikkim where different species of orchids were cultivated and exported to different parts of the country.
According to assistant marketing officer N. Lanu Aier the team visited horticultural farms managed by different Self Help Groups where different varieties of vegetables like tomato, cabbage, chilly; cauliflower, spinach, coriander etc. are cultivated and National Bamboo Mission Nursery at Chotasingtam. The team expressed gratitude to the Department of Horticulture, Govt. of Sikkim, specially the Addl. Director and the Horticulture Officer for their warm hospitality and for rendering their services.
Meanwhile, the team has expressed gratitude to NSAMB for organizing beneficial tour which served “as an eye opener” especially for farmers who have learnt different methods of cultivation and marketing of flowers, crops and vegetables.
The team also stated that farmers would be benefited if the government could organize such kind of exposure tours in future to improve farming system and to explore the feasibility of adopting new agricultural practices in the state.