Press Release
Press Release from the Agriculture Department, Gangtok District
Information & Public Relations Department
Workshop on “The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for Agriculture and Food (TEEBAgriFood)” Held at New Secretariat, Tashiling.
Gangtok, 8th October 2026: A workshop on “The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for Agriculture and Food (TEEBAgriFood)”, organised by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in collaboration with the Agriculture Department, Government of Sikkim.
The workshop was held in the Conference Hall of the New Secretariat, Tashiling, under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary, Government of Sikkim, Shri R. Telang, IAS.
The workshop was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Horticulture Department Shri Pradeep Kumar, IFS; Secretary, Agriculture, Shri Rajen Thapa; Secretary, Horticulture, Shri T. T. Bhutia; Principal Director, Agriculture Department, Shri B. L. Dahal; Shri Jigme Basi, Special Secretary, Planning and Development Department; Smt. Rachna Gurung, Additional Director, Agriculture Department and Coordinator of the programme; Shri Sonam Rinchen Lepcha, Additional Director, Department of Science and Technology; Shri Phurba Tshering Lepcha, representative of the Spices Board; Dr. Alka Bhargava, Senior Policy Advisor, UNEP. Dr. Salman Hussain, Head, The Economics of Nature (TEN) Unit, Ecosystems Division, UNEP; Shri Reuben Gergan, Programme Management Officer, UNEP and Shri Adit Nair, Project Associate, IIM Ahmedabad other participants joined through Video Conference.
Addressing the workshop, Chief Secretary Shri R. Telang, IAS, emphasised the close interdependence between healthy ecosystems and productive agriculture. He stressed that agricultural development must look beyond production and productivity and give due importance to biodiversity, soil and water resources, ecosystem services, food and nutritional security, human health and the well-being of farmers. He underscored the need for a farmer-centric and sustainable approach that enhances agricultural productivity while protecting the natural resource base for future generations.
The Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Horticulture Department, highlighted the need for ecosystem conservation and agricultural development to progress hand in hand. He emphasised that sustainable agricultural practices should be both environment-friendly and farmer-friendly, ensuring conservation of natural resources while supporting the livelihoods and economic interests of farming communities.
Dr. Alka Bhargava, Senior Policy Advisor, UNEP, elaborated on the vision and objectives of the programme, particularly the importance of recognising the value of nature and ecosystem services in agricultural and food-system decision-making and developing evidence-based approaches for sustainable and inclusive agriculture.
Dr. Salman Hussain, Head of the TEN Unit, UNEP, provided the global perspective on the TEEBAgriFood framework and its relevance to assessing the interlinkages between ecosystems, agriculture, food systems, livelihoods and human well-being, with emphasis on incorporating the value of ecosystem services into informed policy and planning.
Shri Reuben Gergan, Programme Management Officer, UNEP, gave an overview of the TEEBAgriFood initiative, highlighting its systems approach to understanding the relationship between agriculture, nature, biodiversity, ecosystem services, livelihoods and human well-being.
Following the presentation, Secretary, Agriculture, Shri Rajen Thapa, and Secretary, Horticulture, Shri T. T. Bhutia, shared their observations and feedback on the applicability and relevance of the TEEBAgriFood approach to the agricultural and horticultural sectors of Sikkim.
The deliberations resulted in a shared understanding among the participants on the need to strengthen the integration of biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services and sustainable agricultural development, while keeping farmers and their livelihoods at the centre of policy and programme interventions. The participants also acknowledged the relevance of the TEEBAgriFood approach for Sikkim, given its rich biodiversity and close dependence of agriculture on natural ecosystems.
The workshop concluded with a Vote of Thanks proposed by Shri Reuben Gergan, Programme Management Officer, UNEP, who expressed appreciation to the Government of Sikkim and all participants for their valuable contributions and active participation in the deliberations.
Gangtok, 8th October 2026: A workshop on “The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for Agriculture and Food (TEEBAgriFood)”, organised by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in collaboration with the Agriculture Department, Government of Sikkim.
The workshop was held in the Conference Hall of the New Secretariat, Tashiling, under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary, Government of Sikkim, Shri R. Telang, IAS.
The workshop was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Horticulture Department Shri Pradeep Kumar, IFS; Secretary, Agriculture, Shri Rajen Thapa; Secretary, Horticulture, Shri T. T. Bhutia; Principal Director, Agriculture Department, Shri B. L. Dahal; Shri Jigme Basi, Special Secretary, Planning and Development Department; Smt. Rachna Gurung, Additional Director, Agriculture Department and Coordinator of the programme; Shri Sonam Rinchen Lepcha, Additional Director, Department of Science and Technology; Shri Phurba Tshering Lepcha, representative of the Spices Board; Dr. Alka Bhargava, Senior Policy Advisor, UNEP. Dr. Salman Hussain, Head, The Economics of Nature (TEN) Unit, Ecosystems Division, UNEP; Shri Reuben Gergan, Programme Management Officer, UNEP and Shri Adit Nair, Project Associate, IIM Ahmedabad other participants joined through Video Conference.
Addressing the workshop, Chief Secretary Shri R. Telang, IAS, emphasised the close interdependence between healthy ecosystems and productive agriculture. He stressed that agricultural development must look beyond production and productivity and give due importance to biodiversity, soil and water resources, ecosystem services, food and nutritional security, human health and the well-being of farmers. He underscored the need for a farmer-centric and sustainable approach that enhances agricultural productivity while protecting the natural resource base for future generations.
The Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Horticulture Department, highlighted the need for ecosystem conservation and agricultural development to progress hand in hand. He emphasised that sustainable agricultural practices should be both environment-friendly and farmer-friendly, ensuring conservation of natural resources while supporting the livelihoods and economic interests of farming communities.
Dr. Alka Bhargava, Senior Policy Advisor, UNEP, elaborated on the vision and objectives of the programme, particularly the importance of recognising the value of nature and ecosystem services in agricultural and food-system decision-making and developing evidence-based approaches for sustainable and inclusive agriculture.
Dr. Salman Hussain, Head of the TEN Unit, UNEP, provided the global perspective on the TEEBAgriFood framework and its relevance to assessing the interlinkages between ecosystems, agriculture, food systems, livelihoods and human well-being, with emphasis on incorporating the value of ecosystem services into informed policy and planning.
Shri Reuben Gergan, Programme Management Officer, UNEP, gave an overview of the TEEBAgriFood initiative, highlighting its systems approach to understanding the relationship between agriculture, nature, biodiversity, ecosystem services, livelihoods and human well-being.
Following the presentation, Secretary, Agriculture, Shri Rajen Thapa, and Secretary, Horticulture, Shri T. T. Bhutia, shared their observations and feedback on the applicability and relevance of the TEEBAgriFood approach to the agricultural and horticultural sectors of Sikkim.
The deliberations resulted in a shared understanding among the participants on the need to strengthen the integration of biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services and sustainable agricultural development, while keeping farmers and their livelihoods at the centre of policy and programme interventions. The participants also acknowledged the relevance of the TEEBAgriFood approach for Sikkim, given its rich biodiversity and close dependence of agriculture on natural ecosystems.
The workshop concluded with a Vote of Thanks proposed by Shri Reuben Gergan, Programme Management Officer, UNEP, who expressed appreciation to the Government of Sikkim and all participants for their valuable contributions and active participation in the deliberations.
