People and Process
Meet An Organic Farmer Of Garo Hills, Meghalaya
Eline A. Sangma is a lady organic farmer who has been practising organic farming for the past 20 years and is no less than a successful agricultural entrepreneur. Her family farm is in Mukdangra Village, West Garo Hills district, Meghalaya. She grows a variety of crops and uses natural fertilizers like animal dung. Team Zizira visited her farm on the 26th December 2015 and we bring you this first-hand report from the field visit.
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.
Benefits Of Research Should Improve Livelihood - Dr. Barik - NEHU
Research is not an end in itself, especially when it involves farming and the livelihoods of marginal farmers. It is a social cause to start with, and an economical cause as its end. And to such an end the benefits of research needs to be reached efficiently and quickly.
What Makes NEHU a Pride of India?
North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), with its beautiful 1225 acres campus in Umshing, Shillong, is a pride of not only the Northeast India, but the country itself. Established in 1973, the move to a new campus happened only in 2005. Right from the beginning it has been quietly establishing itself as an Institution of higher learning and research of very high standards.
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.
A Model Family Farm Using Sustainable Agriculture Methods In Meghalaya
Nah, a lady farmer using sustainable agriculture methods, is like a successful female entrepreneur. Her family farm land is in Puriang Village, in the East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya. They grow a variety of crops, use animal dung to fertilize, try new methods of farming, experiment with new seeds and have a system to reach their produce to the market.
What she makes off the land provides her family a good quality of life and better education for her children. We would like to share their success story of using sustainable agriculture methods. Read on…
What she makes off the land provides her family a good quality of life and better education for her children. We would like to share their success story of using sustainable agriculture methods. Read on…
Time to Find the Gold Grown by Turmeric Farmers of Meghalaya
How does it feel to be sitting on a gold mine and not being able to get the benefit of the gold? Not a good feeling, surely. The turmeric farmers of Meghalaya are facing similar worries as their curcumin-rich turmeric harvests fail to get the buyers and the price they should.
Meghalaya Going Organic – No Turning Back
Mr. Canning Shabong is passionate about agriculture and not just because he is a senior officer in the Department of Agriculture with over 20 years of experience in this field. There seems to be a further calling, which is evident when you read his informative blog posts on the GOM website.
Village Growing High Curcumin Turmeric in Meghalaya
You may have read our post on high curcumin turmeric that is exclusive to Meghalaya called Lakadong Turmeric. There is a growing demand for curcumin (the pigment in turmeric that has health benefits) and hence for high curcumin turmeric. Interestingly Lakadong turmeric is grown only in a small region in the state of Meghalaya.