Although the demand for flowers grown in Sikkim has been increasing, farmers face challenges such as water scarcity, threats from animals like monkeys that damage crops, and lack of proper market linkages — prompting some to tap online sales and eliminate middlemen.
Amit Subba from Daragaon village in Pakyong district of Sikkim has spent the past three years tending to the soil of his ambitions. The 27-year-old farmer has been nurturing a kaleidoscope of flowers – orchids, gerberas et al. His home, a mere 25km from the bustling state capital of Gangtok, is an oasis of blossoms and burgeoning dreams.
Armed with determination and two greenhouses, his flower garden dances to the rhythms of his care. His flowers were sold to local traders who then distributed them in the local market in Gangtok and other parts of the state.
“For three years, I toiled, selling my precious blooms to local traders, battling minimal profits and relentless competition,” he said.
Subba’s story diverges from the well-trodden paths of traditional farming. While fellow cultivators cling to time-honoured methods, he has embarked on an innovative journey, embracing the digital realm. “I recognised that the future lay in the digital horizon.”
He’s transitioned to an online marketplace, a pivot that’s breathing new life into his blossoms. “I receive orders through digital channels and dispatch exquisite cut flowers via couriers,” Subba said.
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The market extends to social media, where a Facebook page showcases his vibrant creations. Here, photographs of his floral wonders dance across screens, inviting patrons to embrace the beauty of blooms with a few clicks. Subba’s faith in the online frontier is unshaken, grounded in the belief that it’s the gateway to uncharted markets, free from the clutches of intermediaries.
In Sikkim, a state that boasts one of the country’s lowest populations at 7 lakh, a curious paradox unfolds. It thrives in floriculture, a testament to the fertile land’s generosity.
Orchids, resplendent in their diversity, grace the landscape, exported to distant shores. Gerberas, beloved by governments and private ceremonies alike, find their roots in Sikkim’s soil. A plethora of other flowers, from lilium (lily) to alstroemeria (lily of the Incas) and phalaenopsis (moth orchid), thrive in this blooming paradise.
Approximately 500 dedicated farmers till the land, reaping a yearly bounty of 1,685,000 tonnes of flowers and 472,000 tonnes of cut flowers. The canvas of flower cultivation spans a vast 248,000 hectares, where the hues of nature’s palette come to life.
Government officials reveal the intricate support system provided to budding farmers. Through the Horticulture Mission for North East & Himalayan States (HMNEH) under the Mission for the Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), they embark on a journey of empowerment.
Surveying virgin lands destined for transformation, they erect protective greenhouses adorned with UV-treated plastic film, shielding fragile plants from the sun’s harsh rays. Young farmers are nurtured through extensive training regimens, receiving 600 seedlings for 100 square metres for their maiden venture, along with organic pesticides to ward off pests, said Kesang Lachungpa, the horticulture joint director.
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The floral crescendo reaches its zenith in the first three months of the year, the season of weddings and jubilation. “Our land craves flowers, and our gerberas adorn government events and private ceremonies alike,” said Sukhman Subba, a 40-year-old farmer.
Yet, despite the burgeoning demand for blooms in Sikkim’s fertile ground, challenges persist. Amid this floral symphony, discordant notes echo. Farmers grapple with a capricious water supply, especially during the unforgiving winter months.
“The winter’s icy grip leaves our streams barren,” said Bishnu Kumar Rai, a 42-year-old farmer from Radang village who has five greenhouses. The distant streams, the lifelines of these plantations, retreat and leave hillsides thirsty for nourishment. The cost of ferrying water from afar erodes profits like sandcastles to the sea.
In the silent drama of nature, another antagonist emerges – the mischievous monkeys. Armed with an insatiable appetite for destruction, they descend upon the flower fields, wreaking havoc with their impromptu feasts.
Yet, the most formidable adversary remains the middlemen, gatekeepers of profit. Flowers exchanged for a pittance in local transactions are resold in distant markets at exorbitant prices. A disconnect between farmers and broader markets stifles potential prosperity.
Sukhman Subba envisions a brighter future, where direct access to markets in locations like Siliguri, a mere 112 km from Gangtok, can amplify profits. The prospect of reaching new markets, untouched by intermediaries, beckons like a distant oasis.
The government, too, acknowledges the need to bridge this gap, working to enhance market linkages and bolster farmer prosperity. Beneath the protective canopy of the hills, Sikkim’s floral renaissance continues, nurtured by the delicate balance between tradition and technology.
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In this vibrant garden of dreams, the digital world is a new bud, waiting to unfurl its petals. The journey to selling directly, though fraught with challenges, is a journey worth undertaking. Amit Subba’s pioneering spirit exemplifies the evolution of Sikkim’s floral narrative – a tale of growth, challenges, and unwavering hope.
As dawn paints the skies with its delicate hues, the stories of these farmers become interwoven with the very fabric of Sikkim’s existence. The blooms of Sikkim’s future are poised to paint an even more vibrant canvas, embodying nature’s resilience and human innovation.
The lead image at the top shows a pink Hydrangeas adding color to the landscape (Photo by Gurvinder Singh)
Gurvinder Singh, a journalist based in Kolkata.
