Sh. Om Prakash Mathur, Honorable Governor of Sikkim visited Integrated Organic Farming System model at Lingdong village, Dzongu, North Sikkim on 8th September, 2026 along with District collector Sh. Anant Jain and other senior officials from line departments of North Sikkim, Govt. of Sikkim to witness the ground reality of organic agriculture in the state of Sikkim.
        One of the implemented model on Integrated Organic Farming System was initiated by ICAR RC for NEH Region, Sikkim Centre, Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim since the year 2021 under Tribal Sub Plan (TSP)/NEH component in active collaboration especially with Department of Horticulture, Govt. of Sikkim and Department of Fisheries, Govt. of Sikkim in the field of Shri. Tshering Ongden Lepcha. With the dedicated efforts by Farmer, ICAR and the Line department the model was established and for the same farmer has won IARI Innovative Farmer Award in the year 2023. Looking at success of the model in the field of Shri. Tshering Ongden Lepcha, ATMA North Sikkim has initiated and established a farm school in the year 2026. Honorable Governor expressed his happiness towards approach adopted by ICAR and line départements for betterment of the Lepcha farming community particularly to North Sikkim. Honorable Governor interacted with other TSP beneficiaries of the region for their practical insights on resource conservation, crop diversification and existing market linkages to sustain better livelihood from sustainable subsistent farming practices. Field technology demonstration trials on ground mulching, seasonal crop rotation options, vermicomposting, backyard poultry farming, apiculture, azolla cultivation, off season vegetable cultivation under protected environment etc. was compartmentalized integrating dairy, fishery, poultry and horticulture components to strengthen the livelihood security of tribal farmers in the region. Finally, the Governor emphasized urgent need for replication of such model through community participation, institutional and technical support, to unlock the local market economy potential towards attending better farming livelihood and overall increase in farmers’ income through practicing sustainable hill farming in the Sikkim Himalaya region.
        District collector, North Sikkim Sh. Anant Jain expressed his willingness to develop more such type of models in North Sikkim to extend the technology at grassroot level from the side by involving Agriculture, Horticulture, Fisheries, ATMA and KVK of Govt. of Sikkim
        Dr. Ashok Kumar, Head of Regional Center, ICAR RC for NEH Region, Sikkim Center, Tadong explained the ongoing field extension activities carried out by ICAR Sikkim Center, Tadong for the benefit of tribal Lepcha farmers of Dzongu and assured for further technical as well as input support for the Integrated Organic Farming System developed at the field of Shri. Tshering Ongden Lepcha at Lingdong village of Dzongu. Dr. Saurav Saha (Nodal officer, TSP) explained the potential of gravity-based poly-lining to divert the perennial stream water for trout farming and integrating micro irrigation techniques in hill agriculture during the water scarcity winter months. Dr. Amit Kumar (Scientist, Agronomy) set forth light weight farm mechanization and eco-friendly pest control measures to achieve better crop health. Representatives from all other Line Departments also attended the programme. On the occasion Honorable Governor of Sikkim has planted avocado seedlings in the farmer's field.