The correct answer is: d) All of the above.
Sikkim is a mountainous state in India with a limited availability of flat, arable land. This poses a challenge for the state’s agriculture, as it limits the types of crops that can be grown. In order to overcome this challenge, Sikkim has focused on high-value crops, such as tea and cardamom, which can be grown on steep slopes. The state has also improved its irrigation systems to ensure that crops have access to water, and has terraced hillsides to create more flat land for cultivation. These measures have helped to increase agricultural production in Sikkim, despite the limited availability of flat, arable land.
Here is a brief explanation of each option:
- Increased focus on high-value crops: High-value crops are those that fetch a high price on the market. Sikkim has focused on growing high-value crops, such as tea and cardamom, which can be grown on steep slopes. This has helped to increase agricultural production in the state, despite the limited availability of flat, arable land.
- Improved irrigation systems: Irrigation systems are essential for agriculture, as they provide crops with the water they need to grow. Sikkim has improved its irrigation systems to ensure that crops have access to water, even during the dry season. This has helped to increase agricultural production in the state.
- Terracing and slope cultivation: Terracing is a method of farming that involves creating terraces on hillsides. This creates more flat land for cultivation, and also helps to prevent soil erosion. Sikkim has terraced hillsides to create more flat land for cultivation, which has helped to increase agricultural production in the state.