**6. Strategies for increasing organic farm productivity in Sikkim**

Single-cropping should be avoided and preferably 2–3 crops should be grown together. If for any reason it is not possible to grow mixed or intercrops, then grow

**39**

be encouraged.

*Packages of Organic Nutrient Management as Soil Policy for Upgrading Cropping System…*

different crops in adjacent plots to maintain diversity. At any given time, legumes must occupy at least 30% of total cropping area. The legumes are nitrogen-fixing and can also be good source of mulching from the crop residues. High-yielding varieties require high nutrient inputs; they should be replaced with improved varieties suitable for organic management [31–35]. The same crop or same cropping sequence should not be repeated in the same field in two consecutive seasons/ years (except for some legume crops such as mung bean or cowpea), and the field must be rotated every 2–3 years. Adoption of conservation tillage practices for improving soil quality and conserving soil moisture. Cover cropping, in situ residue management and restoration of degraded lands for soil moisture conservation, and improved C-sequestration should be practiced [36, 37]. Integrated farming systems and watershed development with animal, fishery, and suitable cropping for soil and moisture conservation and nutrient recycling should be practiced. The use of water-saving and nutrient-saving technologies, viz., system of rice intensification (SRI) and aerobic rice, should be popularized [38]. Rainwater harvesting: in situ (land configuration, mulching with locally available biomass, etc.) and ex situ (ponds, micro-water harvesting structures like *jalkund*, etc.) for ensuring year-round high-value crop production [38]. Adoption of conservation irrigation practices like drip, sprinklers, etc. in situ biomass management in shifting cultivation instead of biomass burning for improving soil carbon economy and hydrology should be practiced. Adoption of low-cost plastic tunnels, low-cost plastic rain shelters, and greenhouse (low cost) for year-round production of high-value low-volume vegetable crops should be promoted. Sufficient application of organic matter is crucial for soil fertility management especially for achieving satisfactory yields with good-quality product. Integration of integrated farming system is a necessity for organic farming [39]. It is also important to strengthen the animal husbandry section with main emphasis on poultry and piggery because majority of the population consume meat [40]. Besides, both are more profitable ventures. Composting of locally available biomass and construction of vermibeds for vermicomposting is also essential. Need-based crop diversification which allows more crops per unit area per unit time and per drop of water with due consideration of market demand should be enhanced. Introduction of new oilseeds and pulse crops which have yield potentials to meet the pulses and oilseed requirement of the region should be promoted. Recycling of all kinds of biomass and crop residues for minimizing the dependence of nutrient requirement from outside should be practiced [24, 41–45]. Adoption of soil conservation measures and careful soil cultivation that does not lead to soil erosion and conserves the soil moisture should be practiced. Integrated organic nutrient management strategies should be adopted. Uses of biofertilizers, green manuring, and concentrated organic manures like neem cake should be used for proper nutrition. Preventive measures should be adopted to manage pests, diseases, and weeds [46]. Awareness should be created for offseason vegetable production on scientific lines. There should also be an adoption of cool transport chain, pre-cooling units, packing houses, short- and long-term cold stores, etc. for minimizing the postharvest losses. Extension network for dissemination should be strengthened and the adoption of appropriate knowledge/technologies monitored [47, 48]. Agri Export Zone should be identified by the government for export of organic products, and contract cultivation/cooperative farming should

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.91928*

#### *Packages of Organic Nutrient Management as Soil Policy for Upgrading Cropping System… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.91928*

different crops in adjacent plots to maintain diversity. At any given time, legumes must occupy at least 30% of total cropping area. The legumes are nitrogen-fixing and can also be good source of mulching from the crop residues. High-yielding varieties require high nutrient inputs; they should be replaced with improved varieties suitable for organic management [31–35]. The same crop or same cropping sequence should not be repeated in the same field in two consecutive seasons/ years (except for some legume crops such as mung bean or cowpea), and the field must be rotated every 2–3 years. Adoption of conservation tillage practices for improving soil quality and conserving soil moisture. Cover cropping, in situ residue management and restoration of degraded lands for soil moisture conservation, and improved C-sequestration should be practiced [36, 37]. Integrated farming systems and watershed development with animal, fishery, and suitable cropping for soil and moisture conservation and nutrient recycling should be practiced. The use of water-saving and nutrient-saving technologies, viz., system of rice intensification (SRI) and aerobic rice, should be popularized [38]. Rainwater harvesting: in situ (land configuration, mulching with locally available biomass, etc.) and ex situ (ponds, micro-water harvesting structures like *jalkund*, etc.) for ensuring year-round high-value crop production [38]. Adoption of conservation irrigation practices like drip, sprinklers, etc. in situ biomass management in shifting cultivation instead of biomass burning for improving soil carbon economy and hydrology should be practiced. Adoption of low-cost plastic tunnels, low-cost plastic rain shelters, and greenhouse (low cost) for year-round production of high-value low-volume vegetable crops should be promoted. Sufficient application of organic matter is crucial for soil fertility management especially for achieving satisfactory yields with good-quality product. Integration of integrated farming system is a necessity for organic farming [39]. It is also important to strengthen the animal husbandry section with main emphasis on poultry and piggery because majority of the population consume meat [40]. Besides, both are more profitable ventures. Composting of locally available biomass and construction of vermibeds for vermicomposting is also essential. Need-based crop diversification which allows more crops per unit area per unit time and per drop of water with due consideration of market demand should be enhanced. Introduction of new oilseeds and pulse crops which have yield potentials to meet the pulses and oilseed requirement of the region should be promoted. Recycling of all kinds of biomass and crop residues for minimizing the dependence of nutrient requirement from outside should be practiced [24, 41–45]. Adoption of soil conservation measures and careful soil cultivation that does not lead to soil erosion and conserves the soil moisture should be practiced. Integrated organic nutrient management strategies should be adopted. Uses of biofertilizers, green manuring, and concentrated organic manures like neem cake should be used for proper nutrition. Preventive measures should be adopted to manage pests, diseases, and weeds [46]. Awareness should be created for offseason vegetable production on scientific lines. There should also be an adoption of cool transport chain, pre-cooling units, packing houses, short- and long-term cold stores, etc. for minimizing the postharvest losses. Extension network for dissemination should be strengthened and the adoption of appropriate knowledge/technologies monitored [47, 48]. Agri Export Zone should be identified by the government for export of organic products, and contract cultivation/cooperative farming should be encouraged.

*Organic Agriculture*

10.Turmeric (*Curcuma longa* L.): Needs heavy manuring. Apply FYM at 15–20 t/ ha along with 250 kg neem cake or vermicompost at 10 t/ha. Integrated application of FYM at 10 t/ha and vermicompost at 5 t/ha along with 250 kg neem cake. O.M. along with biofertilizers like Azospirillum and Bacillus for better

11.Mandarin (*Citrus reticulata* Blanco.): Young plants manured once/year, bearing plants twice/year (June to July and after harvesting in December to January) at 10–20 kg FYM/tree or 2–2.5 kg vermicompost/tree. Micronutrients through foliar sprays of water-soluble organic sources or nano-fertilizers at 0.2%. Dolomite at 100–200 g/plant for every second year. Neem cake at 2 t/ha during

12.Kiwifruit (*Actinidia chinensis*): Plants are heavy nitrogen feeders. Apply

well-decomposed FYM at 25–30 t/ha and neem cake at 2 t/ha after vines have several inches of new growth during early spring. During active fruit growth stage, vermicompost at 2 kg/plant should also be given for better growth, pro-

Cole crops (Brassica spp.): Well-decomposed FYM or compost should be applied at 5.0 kg/m2 along with neem cake at 200 g/m2 at the time of final land preparation. Root dipping of seedlings in Azospirillum + PSB (20%) for 15 minutes at the time of planting. Additional application of vermicompost in

13.Potato (*Solanum tuberosum* L.): Proper soil fertility management alone accounts for 20.7% of all yield contributing factors. Well-decomposed and dried cattle manure or compost at 25–30 t/ha and neem cake at 2 t/ha should be applied.

The most important crops which have been identified in Sikkim as commercial crop for marketing outside state are large cardamom, ginger, turmeric, buckwheat, cymbidium (flower), and tea. **Table 2** represents the marketing of organic produce

Within Sikkim Vegetables

**Products**

Sikkim mandarin, kiwi, ginger, turmeric, buckwheat, rajma, and vegetables

nutrition. Dolomite at 2 t/ ha to ameliorate soil acidity.

cole crops at 1 kg/m2 further improves production.

**5. Identified crops for marketing outside state from Sikkim**

**marketing**

Sikkim

Within and outside

Nature's gift (private entity) Outside Sikkim Ginger, turmeric, buckwheat

**Agency Jurisdiction of** 

Sikkim Marketing Federation

*Marketing of organic produce in Sikkim.*

**6. Strategies for increasing organic farm productivity in Sikkim**

Single-cropping should be avoided and preferably 2–3 crops should be grown together. If for any reason it is not possible to grow mixed or intercrops, then grow

active growth stage in July to August.

duction, and fruit quality.

**38**

in Sikkim.

(SIMFED)

**Table 2.**

Farmers Producers Organizations

*Organic Agriculture*
