Gangtok: Vice President of India CP Radhakrishnan is on his maiden visit to Sikkim on the occasion of State’s 51st Statehood Celebration. The VP was scheduled to be flown from Bagdogra airport to Libing Army Helipad in Gangtok on an Army chopper. However, due to rainfall earlier in the day and bad weather conditions, the VP took the road route via National Highway 10 from Bagdogra to reach Gangtok.
He arrived at Rangpo border checkpost at 11:30 am, thereafter he travelled another hour to reach Lok Bhawan in Gangtok where he was received by Governor Om Prakash Mathur and Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay along with Sikkim Legislative Assembly Speaket MN Sherpa, Deputy Speaker Raj Kumari Thapa, Lok Sabha MP Indra Hang Subbacalong with cabinet ministers.
Upon his arrival, the VP was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour by Sikkim Armed Police.
Following which, the Vice President attended the Statehood Celebration in Manan Kendra where he was presented with traditional Lepcha hat ‘Sumok Thyaktuk’ by CM Golay. Thereafter, ritualistic lamp was lit and flowers were offered to the portrait of Lt. Lhendup Dorji Khangsarpa, the first Chief Minister of Sikkim.
Traditional dances were also performed on the occasion by various communities of Sikkim alongwith the patriotic Sikkimese song ‘Jaha Bagcha Teesta Rangeet’.
He also launched the Sikkim Organic Mission’s Value-Added Food Chain initiative aimed at strengthening market access, processing infrastructure and export opportunities for organic farmers in the State.
The initiative is expected to benefit Sikkim’s organic farming sector with an estimated value generation of nearly Rs 300 crore over the coming years.
The programme brings together a broad range of stakeholders led by the Government of Sikkim in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, farmer producer organisations (FPOs), the Ministry of Food Processing Industries and private sector investors.
The framework focuses on improving production systems, strengthening farmer aggregation, upgrading food processing infrastructure and expanding global market access for Sikkim’s organic produce.
Key support agencies including Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development and NERAMAC are expected to provide market facilitation, export support, financing assistance and institutional backing under the initiative.Officials said the programme has been designed to significantly enhance annual farm-gate premiums and increase farmers’ return on investment by 2028 through the establishment of new cold storage systems, aggregation networks and district-level organic value chains.
The initiative will particularly focus on high-value organic crops from Sikkim including large cardamom and ginger, with plans to expand exports to international markets such as the United States, Europe and Japan.
The project will also emphasise global certifications, digital traceability systems and the production of export-oriented high-value organic products.
Apart from boosting agricultural income, the initiative is expected to reduce post-harvest losses, safeguard Sikkim’s organic ecosystem and generate additional agri-tourism opportunities in the State.
Officials described the programme as a model for sustainable agriculture that could be replicated across the country while strengthening Sikkim’s position as India’s leading organic farming State.