Press Release
Press Release from Agriculture Department, Pakyong District
Information & Public Relations Department
Custom Hiring Centre and New Utility Vehicle Sponsored under MOVCD-NER, Agriculture Department Inaugurated at Diking Pacheykhani, Pakyong District
Pakyong, 16 October: Custom Hiring Centre and New Utility Vehicle Sponsored under MOVCD-NER, Agriculture Department Inaugurated at Diking Pacheykhani, Pakyong District. The Chalamthang Pacheykhani Organic Farmer Producer Cooperative Society Ltd., a Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) promoted under the centrally sponsored flagship scheme Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCD-NER) implemented by the Agriculture Department, Government of Sikkim, inaugurated a dedicated Custom Hiring Centre (CHC) and flagged off a newly acquired utility vehicle at the Society’s office premises in Diking Pacheykhani, Pakyong District.
Established under the mandate of the MOVCD-NER scheme to develop integrated, end-to-end organic value chains, the Custom Hiring Centre and utility vehicle aim to accelerate farm mechanisation, reduce cultivation and manual labour costs, and provide reliable post-harvest transportation for local organic produce. The CHC will provide member farmers with affordable, community-level access to modern agricultural tools and implements, addressing regional labour shortages and boosting productivity across the farming cluster.
The programme commenced with the arrival of the Chief Guest, Smt. Prabha Pradhan, Hon’ble Zilla Upadhyaksha, Pakyong District, and the Guest of Honour, Smt. Nim Chiki Sherpa, Chairperson, Commerce & Industries Department, alongside departmental dignitaries, followed by the traditional ceremonial offering of khadas.
The Chief Guest formally inaugurated the Custom Hiring Centre, flagged off the newly acquired utility vehicle, and officially unveiled the FPO’s packaged organic products. The board members of the Society delivered a comprehensive presentation outlining the FPO’s milestones under the MOVCD-NER scheme, institutional development, and forward market-linkage roadmaps.
Welcome remarks and an operational overview of the collective were presented by Shri Gyalpo Tamang, President of the FPO. The gathering was subsequently addressed by Dr. Kinchokla Bhutia, Joint Director, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services (AH&VS) Department, who spoke on integrating livestock management with organic farming systems. She also gave detailed insight into the fertility camp.
Smt. Rebecca Gurung, Deputy Director, Agriculture Department, delivered a detailed address elaborating on the core objectives and operational framework of the MOVCD-NER scheme. She outlined the pivotal roles and responsibilities of both the Agriculture Department and the FPO in ensuring statutory compliance, maintaining organic integrity, and driving value addition. The session also featured an informative address on natural farming practices delivered by a representative from the Montram Foundation.
Shri Bijay Subba, Registrar, Cooperation Department, addressed the assembly on the importance of cooperative governance, statutory compliance, and building resilient business models for farmer collectives.
In her keynote address, Chief Guest Smt. Prabha Pradhan, Hon’ble Zilla Upadhyaksha, commended the Agriculture Department’s sustained institutional backing under MOVCD-NER. She urged farmers to take full ownership of the newly created assets, highlighting that collective mechanisation, value addition, and cooperative unity are vital to elevating rural farm incomes.
She collectively underscored that moving from subsistence cultivation to organised organic agribusiness through FPOs is central to Sikkim’s sustainable agricultural vision.
Marking the occasion, high-yielding buckwheat and mustard seeds were distributed to member farmers through the FPO, alongside hybrid vegetable seeds. This distribution drive aims to promote seasonal crop diversification, improve cropping intensity, and expand cash-crop earnings for local growers.
The inaugural event witnessed active participation from local Panchayats, Deputy Registrars (Cooperation), Horticulture Development Officer (HDO) Pakyong, Agriculture Development Officer (ADO) Pakyong, Horticulture Inspector, field officials from the Agriculture, Horticulture, and AH&VS Departments, as well as a large gathering of local farmers.
Pakyong, 16 October: Custom Hiring Centre and New Utility Vehicle Sponsored under MOVCD-NER, Agriculture Department Inaugurated at Diking Pacheykhani, Pakyong District. The Chalamthang Pacheykhani Organic Farmer Producer Cooperative Society Ltd., a Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) promoted under the centrally sponsored flagship scheme Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCD-NER) implemented by the Agriculture Department, Government of Sikkim, inaugurated a dedicated Custom Hiring Centre (CHC) and flagged off a newly acquired utility vehicle at the Society’s office premises in Diking Pacheykhani, Pakyong District.
Established under the mandate of the MOVCD-NER scheme to develop integrated, end-to-end organic value chains, the Custom Hiring Centre and utility vehicle aim to accelerate farm mechanisation, reduce cultivation and manual labour costs, and provide reliable post-harvest transportation for local organic produce. The CHC will provide member farmers with affordable, community-level access to modern agricultural tools and implements, addressing regional labour shortages and boosting productivity across the farming cluster.
The programme commenced with the arrival of the Chief Guest, Smt. Prabha Pradhan, Hon’ble Zilla Upadhyaksha, Pakyong District, and the Guest of Honour, Smt. Nim Chiki Sherpa, Chairperson, Commerce & Industries Department, alongside departmental dignitaries, followed by the traditional ceremonial offering of khadas.
The Chief Guest formally inaugurated the Custom Hiring Centre, flagged off the newly acquired utility vehicle, and officially unveiled the FPO’s packaged organic products. The board members of the Society delivered a comprehensive presentation outlining the FPO’s milestones under the MOVCD-NER scheme, institutional development, and forward market-linkage roadmaps.
Welcome remarks and an operational overview of the collective were presented by Shri Gyalpo Tamang, President of the FPO. The gathering was subsequently addressed by Dr. Kinchokla Bhutia, Joint Director, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services (AH&VS) Department, who spoke on integrating livestock management with organic farming systems. She also gave detailed insight into the fertility camp.
Smt. Rebecca Gurung, Deputy Director, Agriculture Department, delivered a detailed address elaborating on the core objectives and operational framework of the MOVCD-NER scheme. She outlined the pivotal roles and responsibilities of both the Agriculture Department and the FPO in ensuring statutory compliance, maintaining organic integrity, and driving value addition. The session also featured an informative address on natural farming practices delivered by a representative from the Montram Foundation.
Shri Bijay Subba, Registrar, Cooperation Department, addressed the assembly on the importance of cooperative governance, statutory compliance, and building resilient business models for farmer collectives.
In her keynote address, Chief Guest Smt. Prabha Pradhan, Hon’ble Zilla Upadhyaksha, commended the Agriculture Department’s sustained institutional backing under MOVCD-NER. She urged farmers to take full ownership of the newly created assets, highlighting that collective mechanisation, value addition, and cooperative unity are vital to elevating rural farm incomes.
She collectively underscored that moving from subsistence cultivation to organised organic agribusiness through FPOs is central to Sikkim’s sustainable agricultural vision.
Marking the occasion, high-yielding buckwheat and mustard seeds were distributed to member farmers through the FPO, alongside hybrid vegetable seeds. This distribution drive aims to promote seasonal crop diversification, improve cropping intensity, and expand cash-crop earnings for local growers.
The inaugural event witnessed active participation from local Panchayats, Deputy Registrars (Cooperation), Horticulture Development Officer (HDO) Pakyong, Agriculture Development Officer (ADO) Pakyong, Horticulture Inspector, field officials from the Agriculture, Horticulture, and AH&VS Departments, as well as a large gathering of local farmers.
