People and Process
Meet Our Backyard Garden Heroes
Zizira explorers were curious to find out how much the people of Shillong, with a backyard garden, know about the hidden potential of Meghalaya in terms of agriculture and horticulture. We set out to find more! Walk down any road winding its way through households and you are bound to see patches of cabbage, creepers of chow-chow, some beans and even lemongrass being tended to.
Shifting Cultivation in Northeast India: Why Is It Still Prevalent?
Shifting cultivation in Northeast India is still prevalent and is practiced by the indigenous communities. This farming system has been widely disputed as environmentally destructive and economically unfeasible.
Shifting cultivation has been part and parcel of the region’s tradition and culture since time immemorial and its practice is widespread even to this day.
Modern Solutions To Age Old Practices: How ICAR Is Helping Farmers
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR NEH Region), has been advancing agriculture and allied areas in Northeast India. The institute was set up to improve and develop a sustainable farming system in the region. It is now one of the biggest of its kind and has research centres across all Northeast states.
Meghalaya Government Schemes for Agriculture for Farmers and Unemployed Educated Youth
In India, more than 70% of rural households depend on agriculture as their primary means of livelihood. Combined, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, account for one-third of India’s GDP, making them the largest contributor (13.9%, 2013-14) to the country’s economy. With numbers like that, it is no wonder that government schemes for farmers abound, which provide a large platform to expand and grow the agricultural sector along with its allied sectors.
Challenges And Potential Faced By Meghalaya’s Agriculture Sector
Meghalaya’s agricultural potential is yet to be unleashed. The state’s agrarian population is at a staggering 83%! And as impressive as that number may sound, the truth is far from it. In fact, the farmers of Meghalaya face numerous challenges and they have been struggling with the same for decades.
Small Farmers - Are They Benefiting As India Develops Digitally?
As India develops digitally, do you not wonder whether small farmers are benefiting too, from technology? After all, a largely agrarian economy, agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for about 58 per cent of India’s population. And, 81% of them are small and marginal farmers with holdings of less than 2 hectares. What do you know! Looks like there is an initiative to use digital technology to help farmers and that too in the Northeast of India!
It’s Time Meghalaya’s Bio Resources Helped Farmers: Scientist
Meghalaya’s marginal farmers, living on the fringes of society and of the economy, seem to have help at hand in a scientific mind that believes that the goodness of nature’s bounties spread around the wild hills should benefit them. That is what Zizira gathered from Dr Ashiho Asosii Mao, a Senior Scientist of the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) in Shillong.
Potential of Agriculture in Meghalaya
Zizira’s team of explorers went on a quest to get some insight into the potential of agriculture of Meghalaya. During one of these field visits, team Zizira came across an organic ginger farm in Mawtnum village in Meghalaya.
Bird’s Eye Chilli Of Meghalaya - From Dulongnar Village
Bird’s Eye chillies are common chillies of India. They are hot, but decent enough to be used regularly in Indian meals. They are grown organically widely in Meghalaya and provide great taste to your meals.
It was mid October 2015 when Zizira explorers made a trip to Dulongnar, a small village in the Ri-Bhoi district, which is famous for Bird’s Eye chillies. The team met with farmers growing Bird’s Eye chilli, spent time to understand all about their cultivation and bought high quality, organically grown ones for the Zizira store.
It was mid October 2015 when Zizira explorers made a trip to Dulongnar, a small village in the Ri-Bhoi district, which is famous for Bird’s Eye chillies. The team met with farmers growing Bird’s Eye chilli, spent time to understand all about their cultivation and bought high quality, organically grown ones for the Zizira store.
Discovering Meghalaya – Topography, Climate And Farming
Meghalaya is a predominantly agrarian state where about 80% of its population depends on agriculture for livelihood. Rice is the main food grain crop, complemented by other like maize, wheat and a minority share of pulses. Oil-seed crops like rape and mustard are also grown. Fiber crops like cotton, jute and mesta are the traditional cash crops.
Organic Pineapples Provides Livelihood for a Meghalaya Farmer
Bestarwell Shadap Nongkynrih is a second generation farmer who grows organic pineapples on his two-acre farm in the Ri Bhoi district of Meghalaya. He was orphaned when he was about 6 months old and considers himself lucky to have had family support till he grew up to fend for himself and his sister as a farmer. His life is now, the organic pineapple farm that he tends. Here is Bestarwell holding a freshly harvested organic pineapple from his farm in Shangbangla. Taking care of a two-acre tract of land in the hilly terrains of Meghalaya, that too tending to pineapple plants, which need lots of weeding and care is not easy! Yet, Bestarwell seems to be doing really well.