Press Release
Press Release from the Horticulture Department
Information & Public Relations Department
The Horticulture Department, Government of Sikkim, organised the first “Stakeholders’ Meet on Cherry Pepper Marketing” at the Krishi Bhawan Conference Hall on September 15, 2026, to discuss strategies for addressing emerging marketing challenges amid rising Cherry Pepper production in the State.
The meeting was chaired by Secretary, Horticulture Department, Tshering Thendup Bhutia, and attended by the Principal Director, Horticulture Department; scheme in-charges of the Department; Additional Director (SOFDA), Agriculture Department; and representatives from MSME, SIMFED, GFPF, FPOs, private entrepreneurs and other stakeholders involved in Cherry Pepper marketing across Sikkim.
The meeting was convened in view of the significant increase in Cherry Pepper (Dalle Khursani) production in the State under the special package provided by the Government of India to Sikkim.
Discussions focused on anticipating marketing challenges and developing mechanisms to ensure adequate market opportunities for the increasing production.
Emphasising the need for coordinated efforts, the meeting highlighted the importance of strengthening market linkages, processing, value addition and collective marketing to ensure better returns for farmers.
The Horticulture Department assured support to private entrepreneurs for enhancing their production intake capacity through various scheme support.
The Department also assured FPOs of support for upgrading their post-harvest handling, minimum processing, value addition, branding and packaging support through Integrated Post-Harvest Management under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
Stakeholders were urged to provide necessary inputs and work collectively towards strengthening the Cherry Pepper value chain and marketing network in the State.
The meeting concluded with an emphasis on stronger inter-departmental and stakeholder coordination towards developing a comprehensive and sustainable marketing strategy for Sikkim’s Cherry Pepper.
The meeting was chaired by Secretary, Horticulture Department, Tshering Thendup Bhutia, and attended by the Principal Director, Horticulture Department; scheme in-charges of the Department; Additional Director (SOFDA), Agriculture Department; and representatives from MSME, SIMFED, GFPF, FPOs, private entrepreneurs and other stakeholders involved in Cherry Pepper marketing across Sikkim.
The meeting was convened in view of the significant increase in Cherry Pepper (Dalle Khursani) production in the State under the special package provided by the Government of India to Sikkim.
Discussions focused on anticipating marketing challenges and developing mechanisms to ensure adequate market opportunities for the increasing production.
Emphasising the need for coordinated efforts, the meeting highlighted the importance of strengthening market linkages, processing, value addition and collective marketing to ensure better returns for farmers.
The Horticulture Department assured support to private entrepreneurs for enhancing their production intake capacity through various scheme support.
The Department also assured FPOs of support for upgrading their post-harvest handling, minimum processing, value addition, branding and packaging support through Integrated Post-Harvest Management under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
Stakeholders were urged to provide necessary inputs and work collectively towards strengthening the Cherry Pepper value chain and marketing network in the State.
The meeting concluded with an emphasis on stronger inter-departmental and stakeholder coordination towards developing a comprehensive and sustainable marketing strategy for Sikkim’s Cherry Pepper.
