Climate Change Effect on Large Cardamom Crop in East Sikkim: Farmers' Perception

The paper aims at analyzing the effect of climate change on large cardamom based on farmers’ perception in East Sikkim district of Sikkim. Data for the study were collected from 114 farmers through personal interview, focus group discussions and participatory rural appraisal methods. Simple random sampling technique was used for selection of the households. Simple random sampling technique was used for selection of the households. Descriptive statistical measures such as frequency, mean, percentage, standard deviation, chi-square test of independence and binary logistic regression were used for analysis and interpretation of the data. The study found majority of the farmers observed increase in the summer temperature, rainfall quantity and duration, snowfall/frost intensity/duration, landslides while decrease in the winter temperature. These changes in the climatic variables were reported to have visible impacts on the cardamom cultivation. Farmers observed decrease in flowering, fruiting, life span, shade requirement of the crop and increase in the tillering which overall resulted in the decline in cardamom productivity in the study area.