AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT
• The Government has given top priority to the development of agricultural sector and therefore created two separate Departments viz. Agriculture and Horticulture Department.

• The government has opened "Regulated Market" at Rangpo to facilitate farmers from the clutches of middleman and to enable them to get the suitable price for their products.

• The government has fixed support prices for agricultural products to save farmers from market fluctuations.

•Food production has increased from 61.8 thousand tons in 1980-81 to and 1.07 lakh tones in 2005-06.

•In between 1990-91 to 2001-02, the production of horticulture sector has risen from 62,790 tons to 86,465 tons.

• The government has succeeded in transforming the state into an exporting state for agricultural product. Now, cardamom, ginger, flower and dallay (cherry pepper) produced in the state soon reach the international markets.

• Under the "Bharat Darshan" scheme the government sponsors tours for progressive farmers to widen their outlook and to enhance their knowledge base.

•By 2015, the government is committed to transform Sikkim into an "Organic State".

•Two farms in the state have been transformed into centers of excellence for encouraging organic farming.

•In the world market the demand for organic products are ever on the rise. Therefore, the Government has given maximum priority for the development of organic products and floriculture.

• The subsidies in fertilizers are being steadily reduced since 2003. In lieu of it "Vermi-composting" and effective "Micro- Organism" is being popularized with subsidy support. The quality of soil has improved in the state by vermi-composting.

•To achieve its aim the government has already started "Rural-composting", "Vermi-composting" and "Bio-fertilizer" units.

• An Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with the experts from Netherlands to find ways and means to promote flowers and organic products of Sikkim in the world market.

•Besides distributing water tanks for the progressive farmers
 'Green Houses' are being constructed for them.

•The government is coordinating with ICAR and Cardamom
 Board to find antidotes against plant diseases that affect cardamom,
oranges, ginger and potato.

• State Tissue Culture Centre has been opened in the state.

• To desiccate cardamom a low cost technique is being used.

•Rural women are trained to grow orchids and mushrooms.
•In VLW centers have been established in 167 Gram Panchayats of the state.

• In the last decade there has been unprecedented growth in the floriculture sector. In International Flower Show, a private floriculturist of Sikkim won 2nd position in 2006.

• "State Horticulture Mission" has been launched.

• The number of Government Agricultural farms has increased to nine.

• Recently, the potentiality of Sikkim was exposed in the Flower Exhibition held at the premises of Old Sikkim House in New Delhi. The President of UPA, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi praised what Sikkim achieved within a short period of time. She also promised central assistance for the development of floriculture industry in Sikkim.

• To meet the marketing needs of local farmers, two horticultural centers have been opened at Assam Linzey and Majhitar.

• Loans from various financial institutions have been arranged to encourage youths to open up floriculture industries.

• A Floriculture Training Centre has been established at Pangthang, East Sikkim.

• "The Sikkim Himalayan Orchids" and "NASON' of Assam Lingzey, "Carnation Lilium" of Majhitar  have tied up with "Florence Flora" of Bangalore to produce and export cut flowers.

Off Farm Activities

• The Government is distributing good quality piglets to the farmers which are bred in government farms.

• 450 women have benefited by rearing Angora rabbits in North Sikkim.

• A dairy Plant with a 1000 ltr. Capacity has been set up in North Sikkim. Another plant of 20 ltr Capacity is also being installed.

• The state has achieved unprecedented development in the field of producing animal fodder and poultry.

• Gouda Cheese is being produced in the cheese plant set up in Dentam, West Sikkim.

• The annual milk production during the year 2005-2006 has gone up to 39 lakhs litres against 16 1akh litres in 1993-1994. In this way the per capita consumption of milk has increased from 163 ml to 243 ml.

• To take care of animals, there are 12 veterinary hospitals, 12 veterinary dispensaries and 66 stockmen Centres in the state.