Central Agriculture University (CAU)

College of Horticulture

The College of Horticulture (Central Agricultural University, Imphal), Bermiok, Sikkim, was established on May 21, 2015, under the beautiful landscape of Namchi Block of South Sikkim, with the major objective of imparting quality education, research, and extension activities in the discipline of horticulture. The site of the college is situated at Tokal, Bermiok, at an elevation of 867 meters with a longitude and latitude of 88º 46.8' 92.7" and 27º 23.2' 36.3". It comes under the sub-tropical hill zone and has a maximum temperature of 30 °C and a minimum of 120 °C, with an average rainfall of 1600 mm.

The region is also one of the biodiversity hotspots, i.e., the Eastern Himalayas, allowing for many diverse species of flora and fauna. The land is home to horticultural crops like large cardamom and many species of orchids. The region has huge scope for horticultural crops such as off-season vegetables, ginger, turmeric, anthurium, roses, Sikkim mandarin, tomatoes, and cole crops. Activities relating to the promotion of non-traditional practices like beekeeping and mushroom cultivation, as well as the plantation of bamboo and medicinal plants, have added diversification to horticultural activities. The significance of horticulture in improving land use, promoting crop diversification, generating employment, and providing nutritional security to people has been widely recognized by common people, policymakers, and program implementers. Hence, horticulture features as an important area in the overall policy framework for development in the state.