Large Cardamom Farming in the Sikkim Himalaya Farming and tourism are the primary livelihood options for mountain people in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region. Only a small segment of the population is engaged in this sector, however. More than 80 per cent of the population depends on agriculture. Population growth and consequent fragmentation of farmland in Sikkim have caused a reduction in per capita holdings. The latter two have caused rapid nutrient depletion of the soil.
Large cardamom is a perennial cash crop grown beneath the forest cover on marginal lands.
Its cultivation is an example of how a local mountain niche can be exploited sustainably. Many decisions taken during the process of planning conservation interventions in tropical forests are influenced by scientists and politicians. Although local people may be strongly affected by these decisions, there are problems related to external professionals' understanding of how such decisions might affect the livelihoods of local residents. And despite the worldwide move towards more 'participatory' methods, there are still problems in finding ways to consult local people to find out which areas they themselves would like to conserve. This question challenges communities for which forests represent a primary resource.