But traditional produce of the region, like cardamom and orange, have been severely affected, says Tilak Dewan, farmer and member of the Ecodevelopment committee of Dabaipani Bhotia Basti, an hour's drive from Darjeeling. Production has drastically declined since 1975, even though we do not use pesticides and inorganic fertilisers. We grow Bharlang, one of the best qualities of cardamom. If climate turns treacherous, the flowers change their ways. This is bad for the pollinating bees.
Fewer pollinators means fewer flowers.
Beekeepers andhorticulturists both suffer Sikkim produces around 60 per cent of India's cardamom, fetching good revenue for the state. We usually produce 4,000-5,000 tonnes of cardamom every year. This pushed the price of cardamom up to Rs 350 per kg, as against the normal price of Rs 250. The total loss was almost Rs 50 crore. The sudden outburst of rain in May, after the extended drought, added fuel to the fire.