Press Release
Press Release from Farmers Welfare Board of Sikkim
Information & Public Relations Department
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE PARTICIPATION IN VITAFOODS INDIA 2026
Prepared By :
Hemant Dawari ,
Member, Farmers Welfare Board of Sikkim
Inspired by the visionary leadership of the Honourable Chief Minister of Sikkim, Shri Prem Singh Tamang (Golay), and his unwavering commitment to the state’s agricultural mission, the newly constituted Farmers Welfare Board of Sikkim recently completed an official mission to Mumbai.
Led by Chairman Shri Padam Prasad Sharma, the delegation—including Board Members Shri Chandra Kumar Sharma, Shri Hemant Dawari, and Smt. Samjana Rai—participated in Vitafoods India 2026 at the Jio World Convention Centre. This premier global nutraceutical expo provided a critical platform to explore international standards in nutrition and agro-processing.
The Board wishes to express its deepest gratitude and heartiest thanks to the Honourable Chief Minister for his trust and confidence. By appointing this team to such a "pious responsibility," the HCM has empowered us to champion the welfare of our farmers. We are fully committed to advancing the prosperity of Sikkim’s vibrant agro-community.
The following summary outlines our findings and the strategic opportunities identified during this visit to further the state's agricultural excellence.
The participation in Vitafoods India 2026 was strategically designed to transition Sikkim’s organic farming sector into a high-value stakeholder within the global nutraceutical economy. Leveraging Sikkim's status as India’s first 100% Organic State, the mission focused on establishing "Farm-to-Formulation" linkages.
1. Primary Objectives:
Corporate Outsourcing: Identify partners for the sustainable outsourcing of organic raw materials from Sikkim.
Infrastructure: Assess the feasibility of establishing a Nutraceutical-Grade Processing Unit in Sikkim.
Economic Roadmap: Create a contract farming framework with a Buy-Back Policy to guarantee farmer income and market security.
2. Key Collaboration & Strategic Talks
The following partnerships were initiated to facilitate organic contract farming in Sikkim:
i. Implementation of a sustainable contract farming model with assured market linkage and technical guidance for Stevia with Stevia Tech.
ii. Sourcing of premium organic Rosemary for botanical extraction from Sikkim, study of agro climate sustainability rosemary farming with K Patel Phyto Extraction Pvt. Ltd. The company suggested the commercial viability of Avocado, Blueberry and Kiwi fruits in Sikkim due to its climatic advantage of the Himalaya, nutritive Value and premium prices in the national and international market.
iii. Scope of Large-scale organic Ashwagandha farming with a legal Buy-Back Agreement to protect farmer interests with M/s Natural Remedies.
iv. Viability studies for certified organic farming of various herbs, including Rosemary, Hibiscus, and Himalayan Marigold, leveraging their 140+ years of manufacturing expertise with M/s JK Botanicals.
v. Testing of indigenous Sikkim’s Sea Buckthorn and conducting a viability study for commercial cultivation with M/s PRG Pharma.
3. EXPECTED OUTCOMES & ROADMAP
A. Feasibility of Processing Unit
Discussions with technical partners (JK Botanicals & K Patel Phyto) suggest that a localised processing unit in Sikkim would significantly reduce logistics costs and preserve the phytochemical integrity of the herbs.
Next Step: Conduct a Detailed Project Report (DPR) on the energy and water requirements for a GMP-certified extraction facility.
B. Farmer Income & Buy-Back Policy
The proposed "Sikkim Model" for contract farming includes:
Price Security: Fixed minimum support prices (MSP) via buy-back agreements.
Technical Support: Partners to provide high-quality seedlings and organic-compliant bio-fertilisers.
Risk Mitigation: Agreements will be formalised through District Courts (as per standard industry practice for 10+ acre yields).
C. Sea Buckthorn Development
Given Sea Buckthorn’s high value in the nutraceutical segment, PRG Pharma will lead the biochemical profiling of the Sikkim variety to benchmark it against global standards.
4. Meeting With Hon’ble Shri Bhagat Singh Kosyari
Members of the Farmers Welfare Board held a high-level consultative meeting with the Honourable Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari. Drawing from his extensive experience as the 22nd Governor of Maharashtra (2019–2023) and the 2nd Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Shri Koshyari provided strategic guidance on elevating Sikkim’s agricultural landscape through organisation, sustainability, and high-value crop cultivation.
Key Advisory Points:
During the meeting, Shri Koshyari emphasised a transition from traditional subsistence farming toward a robust, market-oriented model. His advice focused on three primary pillars:
Farmer Mobilisation:
Motivating and organising the farming community into cohesive units to enhance collective bargaining power and streamline resource distribution.
Commercial Viability: Identifying and scaling agricultural practices that ensure long-term profitability for local farmers while maintaining Sikkim's commitment to organic integrity.
High-Value Crops: Leveraging Sikkim’s unique micro-climates to focus on precious medicinal herbs and specialised flora that command high prices in global pharmaceutical and wellness markets.
Strategic Outlook
Shri Koshyari highlighted the parallels between the Himalayan terrains of Uttarakhand and Sikkim, noting that the cultivation of indigenous medicinal plants is not only sustainable but a critical driver for economic independence in mountainous regions.
5. Conclusion
The event successfully positioned Sikkim not just as a producer of raw crops, but as a premium supplier of Standardized Organic Ingredients. The interest from India’s largest manufacturers confirms that the "Sikkim Organic" brand carries significant weight in the $5 billion Indian nutraceutical market.
Prepared By :
Hemant Dawari ,
Member, Farmers Welfare Board of Sikkim
Inspired by the visionary leadership of the Honourable Chief Minister of Sikkim, Shri Prem Singh Tamang (Golay), and his unwavering commitment to the state’s agricultural mission, the newly constituted Farmers Welfare Board of Sikkim recently completed an official mission to Mumbai.
Led by Chairman Shri Padam Prasad Sharma, the delegation—including Board Members Shri Chandra Kumar Sharma, Shri Hemant Dawari, and Smt. Samjana Rai—participated in Vitafoods India 2026 at the Jio World Convention Centre. This premier global nutraceutical expo provided a critical platform to explore international standards in nutrition and agro-processing.
The Board wishes to express its deepest gratitude and heartiest thanks to the Honourable Chief Minister for his trust and confidence. By appointing this team to such a "pious responsibility," the HCM has empowered us to champion the welfare of our farmers. We are fully committed to advancing the prosperity of Sikkim’s vibrant agro-community.
The following summary outlines our findings and the strategic opportunities identified during this visit to further the state's agricultural excellence.
The participation in Vitafoods India 2026 was strategically designed to transition Sikkim’s organic farming sector into a high-value stakeholder within the global nutraceutical economy. Leveraging Sikkim's status as India’s first 100% Organic State, the mission focused on establishing "Farm-to-Formulation" linkages.
1. Primary Objectives:
Corporate Outsourcing: Identify partners for the sustainable outsourcing of organic raw materials from Sikkim.
Infrastructure: Assess the feasibility of establishing a Nutraceutical-Grade Processing Unit in Sikkim.
Economic Roadmap: Create a contract farming framework with a Buy-Back Policy to guarantee farmer income and market security.
2. Key Collaboration & Strategic Talks
The following partnerships were initiated to facilitate organic contract farming in Sikkim:
i. Implementation of a sustainable contract farming model with assured market linkage and technical guidance for Stevia with Stevia Tech.
ii. Sourcing of premium organic Rosemary for botanical extraction from Sikkim, study of agro climate sustainability rosemary farming with K Patel Phyto Extraction Pvt. Ltd. The company suggested the commercial viability of Avocado, Blueberry and Kiwi fruits in Sikkim due to its climatic advantage of the Himalaya, nutritive Value and premium prices in the national and international market.
iii. Scope of Large-scale organic Ashwagandha farming with a legal Buy-Back Agreement to protect farmer interests with M/s Natural Remedies.
iv. Viability studies for certified organic farming of various herbs, including Rosemary, Hibiscus, and Himalayan Marigold, leveraging their 140+ years of manufacturing expertise with M/s JK Botanicals.
v. Testing of indigenous Sikkim’s Sea Buckthorn and conducting a viability study for commercial cultivation with M/s PRG Pharma.
3. EXPECTED OUTCOMES & ROADMAP
A. Feasibility of Processing Unit
Discussions with technical partners (JK Botanicals & K Patel Phyto) suggest that a localised processing unit in Sikkim would significantly reduce logistics costs and preserve the phytochemical integrity of the herbs.
Next Step: Conduct a Detailed Project Report (DPR) on the energy and water requirements for a GMP-certified extraction facility.
B. Farmer Income & Buy-Back Policy
The proposed "Sikkim Model" for contract farming includes:
Price Security: Fixed minimum support prices (MSP) via buy-back agreements.
Technical Support: Partners to provide high-quality seedlings and organic-compliant bio-fertilisers.
Risk Mitigation: Agreements will be formalised through District Courts (as per standard industry practice for 10+ acre yields).
C. Sea Buckthorn Development
Given Sea Buckthorn’s high value in the nutraceutical segment, PRG Pharma will lead the biochemical profiling of the Sikkim variety to benchmark it against global standards.
4. Meeting With Hon’ble Shri Bhagat Singh Kosyari
Members of the Farmers Welfare Board held a high-level consultative meeting with the Honourable Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari. Drawing from his extensive experience as the 22nd Governor of Maharashtra (2019–2023) and the 2nd Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Shri Koshyari provided strategic guidance on elevating Sikkim’s agricultural landscape through organisation, sustainability, and high-value crop cultivation.
Key Advisory Points:
During the meeting, Shri Koshyari emphasised a transition from traditional subsistence farming toward a robust, market-oriented model. His advice focused on three primary pillars:
Farmer Mobilisation:
Motivating and organising the farming community into cohesive units to enhance collective bargaining power and streamline resource distribution.
Commercial Viability: Identifying and scaling agricultural practices that ensure long-term profitability for local farmers while maintaining Sikkim's commitment to organic integrity.
High-Value Crops: Leveraging Sikkim’s unique micro-climates to focus on precious medicinal herbs and specialised flora that command high prices in global pharmaceutical and wellness markets.
Strategic Outlook
Shri Koshyari highlighted the parallels between the Himalayan terrains of Uttarakhand and Sikkim, noting that the cultivation of indigenous medicinal plants is not only sustainable but a critical driver for economic independence in mountainous regions.
5. Conclusion
The event successfully positioned Sikkim not just as a producer of raw crops, but as a premium supplier of Standardized Organic Ingredients. The interest from India’s largest manufacturers confirms that the "Sikkim Organic" brand carries significant weight in the $5 billion Indian nutraceutical market.
