Global Journal of Biology, Agriculture & Health Sciences

Abstract

ESTABLISHMENT OF LARGE CARDAMOM CLONE MULTIPLICATION UNITS

N.K. Bhattarai, T.N. Deka, P. Chhetri, B. A. Gudade & U. Gupta

The National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP) Components-III project livelihood improvement and empowerment of rural poor through sustainable farming system in North East India has been implemented in Dzongu, North District of Sikkim. An Ethnic tribe known as Lepchas is the main inhabitants of the area. Other few communities like Bhutia and Nepali speaking also are among them. Farming is considered as primary profession, where maize, millets, wheat are the staple crops. Large cardamom is main cash crops of the area and main source for the monetary requirement of farmers. The main cultivar of large cardamom cultivated in the area is Dzongu golsey. The NAIP project was initiated in 2007, with the objective of development of improved farming systems in large cardamom plantation in Dzongu, North Sikkim. North Sikkim contribute major portion of large cardamom from the state of Sikkim. The product from North Sikkim has high demand in National and International market as Mangan variety. The area, production and productivity under large cardamom have declined over the years. The major reasons for decline are menace of Colletotrichum blight, Chirke, foorkey, pest incidence, lack of improper planting materials, lack of irrigation and phytosanitary measures. To overcome this problem National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP) intervention has given emphasis on establishment of large cardamom sucker multiplication nursery for area expansion through gap filling and replantation.

Published Date: 2013-09-03;