Enhancing the livelihood of tribal farmers through vegetables production
A.S. Singh, Tarun Kumar Das, N. Arunkumar Singh & Tanmay Samajdar Krishi Vigyan Kendra, ICAR, West Garo Hills, Meghalaya
Introduction:
India stands first in total production of pea, second in brinjal, okra, cabbage, cauliflower, onion, potato, and third in tomato in the world. West & South West Garo Hills districts of Meghalaya having very suitable climate for cultivation of vegetables. Vegetables are an important component of agriculture and human diet. Vegetables being of shorter duration and labour intensive crops provide livelihood security to most of the small and marginal farmers, landless agricultural labourers and farm women. Besides, they also provide livelihood security to many people involved in supply chain directly or indirectly.Problems Identified:
Growing of vegetables has been a great success since the inception of village Bhoirakupi which is located under ZikZak Block of South West Garo Hills District, Meghalaya. However, the productivity of vegetables in the village is decreasing, due to lack of technical knowledge, unavailability of improved varieties and inputs, infestation by fungal diseases and other pest and improper management practices. Creating awareness among the farmers regarding quality production of vegetables and encouraging peri-urban farming, kitchen gardening, organic farming, protected cultivation and precision farming in vegetables have become necessary.
Intervention Planned:
KVK, Tura scientific personnel had visited and conducted a focus group discussion with local farmers of the village for solving problems arising at their area regarding cultivation of vegetables. After thorough discussion, vegetables seeds were distributed to the farmers and imparted training programmes and method demonstration on scientifically raising of healthy seedling of cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, tomato etc. using polyethylene sheets in raised beds system. The objective of using polyethylene sheets were for getting vegetables a little earlier before the normal time so that better market price and high monetary return may be achieved.Broccoli was a newly introduced crop to the village. The improved varieties and timely intimation for availability of seeds/inputs to the farmers were also executed in proper season. Expert of KVK , West Garo Hills has said to the local farmers regarding the timely sowing of plants, maintenance of crop spacing, proper management of diseases and pests infestation etc. The local farmers were showing keen interest on the method demonstrations conducted by KVK and promised that they will cultivate vegetables scientifically.
Impact:
Sri Gourango Hajong, a young enthusiastic and hardworking farmer from the village is able to grasp the technologies faster and adopt it. He is actively engaged in all day to day working in the farm. KVK, Tura has given timely some improved varieties of winter vegetable crops viz. Broccoli (Aishwaraya), Cauliflower (Swati), Cabbage (Blue Jays), Tomato (Megha -3), Chilli (NP-46A), French bean (Falguni), Peas (Rachna), Brinjal (RCMBL-3) to Mr. Hajong. From his total landholdings of around 5 ha, he could cover only 3.5 ha with winter vegetables and earn with a good monetary return which is more as compare to last ten years as shown in Table 1.
Table.1.Production and economics of Vegetable grown by Mr. Hajong
By seeing the production of Mr. Hajong’s farm, the farmers nearby are showing keen interest in applying the improved technological packages for cultivation of vegetables into their farm. Now, he became the consultant of nearby local farmers’ and whenever they need for short course of trainings and demonstrations then he acts as a expert among the farmers’ society of that particular village. He used to participate in the Scientific Advisory Committee meeting conducted by KVK, Tura every year and had good linkage with other line departments. Recently, he narrated the expansion of vegetable cultivation areas and its improvement for income generation for sustainable livelihood in the entire village. His success story and hardworking has encouraged to the other farmers to grow more vegetables which has high demand in the local and district market. He himself encouraged his achievement and made interested to continue and grow more vegetables in future. KVK, West Garo Hills, Tura will extend thanks and gratitude to Mr. Hajong for his achievement and promised to provide him technological support whenever he needed in the future.
