The Sikkim agriculture department has taken an initiative to promote the cultivation of microgreens across the state to diversify farming practices and create new livelihood avenues for traditional farmers and aspiring entrepreneurs. The Centre of Floriculture and Agri-Business Management (Cofam), which functions under the North Bengal University (NBU) in Siliguri, was enlisted for technical support.
The project, sources said, seeks to introduce modern farming techniques, particularly suited to Sikkim's terrain and urban limitations. In the first phase, experts at Cofam trained around 150 Sikkim government officials in the techniques used for the cultivation of microgreens by using vertical and terrace-based farming models.
Amarendra Kumar Pandey, the practical demonstrator of Cofam, said that in Gangtok and similar urban pockets of Sikkim, where the availability of agricultural land is a persistent challenge, terrace farming was positioned as a practical and sustainable alternative.
"The concept of 'grow your own greens' will be actively promoted among residents and institutions, especially in the tourism and hospitality sectors that define much of Gangtok's economy. We have trained around 150 officials of the agriculture department, and they will now train the farmers," he said.
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