The Economy

Other than Gangtok, the capital and largest town of Sikkim, with a population of 30,000, people live in scattered villages and settlements with agriculture and related activities as the mainstay of the people. Other towns include Singtam, Rongphu, Jorthang, Nayabazar, Mangan, Gyalshing, and Namchi.

Maize, rice, wheat, and barley are cultivated in terraced hillsides. Beans, potatoes, vegetables, fruits and tea are grown. Sikkim is one of the world's main producers of cardamom. While yaks and sheep are popular in the higher elevations, other livestock that are tended include cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and poultry.

Copper, lead, zinc, coal, graphite, and limestone are among the minerals found in the state, though not all are commercially exploited. There is considerable land under forest cover and there is potential for hydroelectricity projects.

Until the early 1970' s, Sikkim had only cottage industries with carpets, blankets and traditional hand-woven textiles, wood carving and scroll paintings and embroidery. Some small-scale industries have been set up, including a distillery, a fruit canning and bottling factory and a tea- processing factory.