CLIMATE AND AGRICULTURE OF SIKKIM.pptx

Class 9 group project ppt for student

1. CLIMATE AND AGRICULTURE OF SIKKIM SUBMITTED BY: ISHITA TANWAR ADITI SAKSHI KHOWAL KANISHAKA YADAV

2. INTRODUCTION Sikkim, state of India , located in the north-eastern part of the country, in the eastern Himalayas. It is the second smallest state in India. Sikkim is bodered by the Tibet Autonomous region in the north and northeast, by Bhutan in the southeast, by Indian states of West Bengal in the south and by Nepal to the west. The capital is Gangtok, in the south eastern part of the state. Location of Sikkim on map of India District wise map of Sikkim

3. CLIMATE The climate of Sikkim is extremely varied largely due to variation in altitude. It has the Himalayan or high mountain type of climate. Altitude is the most important factor controlling the climate and weather condition here. Relief features such as high mountains act as the barriers for the movements of monsoon winds. Low temperature, high rainfall on windward slopes, comparatively dry on the leeward side and heavy precipitation in the form of snow at the mountain top are the main features of the climate here. Due to great variation in sharp edged mountains throughout the state, there is large variation in rainfall and temperature. The Himalayas act as barrier to monsoon winds forcing them to ascend thereby causing orographic rainfall and snow fall.

4. The Himalayas also act as barrier to the flow of cold winds from Central Asia, resulting heavy snowfall on the mountain tops and higher elevations and dry winter season at lower elevation located at the leeward side. The monsoon winds dominate the climate. There is seasonal reversal of winds almost throughout the state. The monsoon imposes the seasonal rhythm which is apparent in the activities of the people since most of them are agriculturists. The following four seasons are prevalent on the basis of the monsoon circulation over the state. The cold weather season - December to February The spring weather season - March to May The south-west monsoon - June to September The period of retreating monsoon - October to November

5. RAINFALL AND TEMPERATURE The mean annual rainfall varies from 2000 mm. to 4000 mm. with intensity of rain from drizzling showers in lower altitude to torrential rains in higher altitude. There are two maximum rainfall areas South-East region and South-West region. There is an area in the North-West region which gets very little rainfall. The greater part of rain fall is received during May to September. The annual rainfall of Sikkim is 2739 mm. The temperature varies with the altitude and slope aspect. The mean temperature in the lower altitudinal zone, it varies from 1.5 degree centigrade to 9.5 degree centigrade. The maximum temperature is usually recorded during July-August which varies from 210 Celsius to 260 Celsius and minimum during December-January between 60 Celsius and 80 Celsius. Fog is a common feature in the entire state from May to September. Biting cold is experienced at high altitude places in the winter months and snowfall is also not uncommon during this period. Climatic factors are entirely influenced by altitude.

6. Mean monthly meteorological parameters of Gangtok Municipal Corporation MONTHS MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE (in degree C) MINIMUM TEMPERATURE (in degree C) JANUARY 13.5 04.3 FEBRUARY 14.9 05.7 MARCH 19.5 08.9 APRIL 21.8 11.9 MAY 22.0 13.7 JUNE 22.5 16.0 JULY 22.6 16.8 AUGUST 22.7 16.5 SEPTEMBER 22.3 15.5 OCTOBER 21.7 12.3 NOVEMBER 18.6 08.7 DECEMBER 15.3 05.6

7. Mean monthly meteorological parameters of Gangtok Municipal Corporation MONTHS RAINFALL (in mm) JANUARY 40.4 FEBRUARY 50.2 MARCH 127.1 APRIL 270.5 MAY 534.7 JUNE 650.4 JULY 666.4 AUGUST 578.2 SEPTEMBER 429.3 OCTOBER 180.3 NOVEMBER 35.8 DECEMBER 17.2

8. AGRICULTURE Sikkim is a hilly State in the Eastern Himalayas where agricultural practices and adaptations are highly variable in time and space due to varying altitudes and agro-climatic situations. Agriculture is the primary activity of the people of Sikkim. About 15.36% of the total geographical area of the land is devoted to agriculture but the actual area available for agricultural purpose is declining due to diversion of cultivable land for non-agricultural purposes like establishment of industries, township expansion, construction of roads, hydel projects, buildings etc. Farming has been considerably handicapped by small and fragmented holdings, limited irrigation, and lack of farm mechanization and frequent occurrence of natural calamities like landslides, floods and earthquakes

9. CROP AREA ( 000 HECTARES) PRODUCTION (000 TONNES) PRODUCTIVITY (Kg ) RICE 9.50 17.64 1856.24 WHEAT 0.17 0.19 1079.26 MAIZE 38.46 67.97 1769.34 FINGER MILLET 2.47 2.55 1031.65 BARLEY 0.42 0.45 1072.64 BUCKWHEAT 3.43 3.35 976.24 PULSES 5.36 5.10 954.21 OILSEEDS 6.28 5.80 924.55 AREA, PRODUCTION AND PRODUCTIVITY IN SIKKIM (2017-18)

10. ORGANIC FARMING IN SIKKIM Organic farming uses techniques to achieve good crop yields without harming the natural environment or the people who live and work in it. It relies on organic or natural fertilizers like: > Compost Manure > Green Manure > Bone Meal And it places emphasis on techniques like: > Crop Rotation > Companion Planting

11. In 2003, Sikkim officially adopted a resolution to switch to organic farming. The state decided to go organic, to ensure long-term sustenance of soil fertility, protection of environment and ecology. The objective was also to promote healthy living and decreasing the risk of disease. India’s first organic state Sikkim has won the Oscar for best policies’ conferred by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for the world’s best policies promoting agro-ecological and sustainable food systems.  The ‘Future Policy Award’ received by the Chief Minister of Sikkim Pawan Kumar Chamling in Rome on 15 Oct 2018 recognized the state’s leadership and political will to lead by example. The award was co-organized by FAO, World Future Council and IFOAM- Organics International. ORGANIC TEA PLANTATIONS IN SIKKIM

12. HOW SIKKIM BECAME AN ORGANIC STATE: A TIMELINE The process of converting Sikkim into a 100 per cent organic state was fast-tracked in 2010 with the launch of the Sikkim Organic Mission 2003 - Sikkim begins discouraging use of chemical fertilizers, reduces fertilizer subsidy by 10 per cent. The Sikkim Organic Board is constituted. 2003-2009 - State adopts 396 villages as bio-villages to test organic inputs. 2006-2009 - About 8,000 ha of land is certified as organic. Eight units of vermin-culture hatcheries are established in five state farms and three Krishi Vigyan Kendra's. 2008-09 - Ginger processing unit is established at Birdang Farm, West Sikkim. Ginger is one of the four high-value crops selected by Sikkim for its trade potential . 2010 - Sikkim Organic Mission is launched to fast-track conversion of Sikkim into a 100 per cent organic state

13. 2010-11 - More than 18,234 ha of land is certified. Automated greenhouses are established for production of disease-free quality planting material. 2011-12 - 19,216 ha land is certified. 2012-13 - 19,188 ha land is certified. `Organic farming' is included in school curriculum 2015 - Entire agricultural area in the state is converted to `certified organic'. 2016 - Sikkim is formally declared a `100 per cent organic' state.

14. IMPORTANT POINTS Sikkim is the first organic state in the world and all farmlands in the state are certified organic. State’s policy approach reaches beyond organic production and has proven transformational for its citizens. It primarily focuses socioeconomic aspects such as consumption and market expansion, cultural aspects as well as health, education, rural development and sustainable tourism. The organic farming policy implemented by state has phased out chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and achieved total ban on sale and use of chemical pesticides in the state. The transition has benefitted more than 66000 farming families in state. Transition to 100% organic state also has greatly benefited its tourism sector and numbers of tourists have increased by over 50% between 2014 and 2017.  With this Sikkim has set an excellent example for other Indian states and countries worldwide for successfully upscale agroecology. Sikkim was awarded UN Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) Future Policy Gold Award (Gold Prize) for its achievement in becoming the world’s first totally organic agriculture state.

15. CONCLUSION Despite the efforts done by some of the policies by the Government, organic farming has not been able to enter the agriculture mainstream in India. Government along with private players needs to make structural changes in prevailing agricultural practices and overcome infrastructural and technological challenges in developing organic farming to a greater level. More awareness should be created among the farming community about the benefits of organic farming. Sikkim has set an example in this field which other states may follow.