Mixed-method study finds improving returns, efficiency and modeled risk among 100 sampled organic ginger and turmeric farmers in Sikkim

A mixed-method study of 100 purposively selected organic farmers in Sikkim found improved economic returns, higher measured technical efficiency and lower modeled production risk in both ginger and turmeric cultivation between 2019–2020 and 2023–2024. The summary, drawn from the study abstract, reports that the benefit-cost ratio for ginger rose from 0.87 to 1.83, while net returns increased from −₹34,902 per hectare to ₹321,817 per hectare. For turmeric, the benefit-cost ratio increased from 0.82 to 1.33, and net returns rose from −₹30,980 per hectare to ₹88,658 per hectare.

The researchers used a mixed method of data collection. They purposively selected 100 farmers who cultivated both ginger and turmeric from identified villages in Sikkim. Their stated aim was to assess economic viability, technical efficiency and associated risk during the period from 2019–2020 to 2023–2024, as well as analyze constraints faced during transitions in the state. Because farmers were purposively rather than randomly selected, the results describe the sampled farms and do not establish that the same changes occurred across all organic ginger and turmeric farms in Sikkim.

According to the abstract, Data Envelopment Analysis was used to measure relative technical and scale efficiencies. The mean pure technical efficiency score for organic ginger increased from 59.00% in 2019–2020 to 81.00% in 2023–2024. Organic turmeric recorded a rise from 49.00% to 74.00% over the same period. These are relative efficiency scores produced by the analysis rather than direct measures of yields or productivity alone. Turmeric was comparatively more vulnerable to risk, as indicated by its higher income variability and lower efficiency score.

A Minimization of Total Absolute Deviations model also indicated a significant reduction in income variability and production risk for both crops over the study period. The authors interpret the results as supporting examination of organic cultivation benefits over the long term and beyond yield. The evidence available here is limited to the abstract of an accepted article published online in advance of the final version, which the publisher says remains subject to further edits. The abstract does not provide the underlying observations, model specifications or uncertainty estimates, and the observational comparisons do not establish that the measured changes were caused by organic farming practices alone.

Subject of Research: Economic viability, technical efficiency and modeled production risk of organic ginger and turmeric farming in Sikkim

Article Title: Economic viability, technical efficiency, and risk assessment of organic ginger and turmeric farming in Sikkim

Article References: Roy, B. C., Mondal, B., Roy, A., & Bhattacharyya, S. (2026). Economic viability, technical efficiency, and risk assessment of organic ginger and turmeric farming in Sikkim. Discover Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-026-04908-w

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1007/s43621-026-04908-w

Keywords: organic farming, ginger cultivation, turmeric cultivation, Sikkim, farm economics, technical efficiency, production risk, income variability, data envelopment analysis, MOTAD, Economic, viability