Olivia Lyngdoh Mawlong, who spent her childhood in Lawsohtun and witnessed the transformation of the village, recollects the days of flourishing organic farming and reports on the plight of farmers now
Once known for its organic vegetables, Lawsohtun is now grappling with the hazards of fast urbanisation. The acres of greenery and vegetation have dwindled into concrete masses and farming is no more considered a ‘respectable’ city job.
Despite the adversities, a handful of farmers here are still following the traditional livelihood of organic farming.
The farmers grow vegetables on the 5 to 6 acres of land leased out by the village dorbar at a low price.
Lumbok Marbaniang, secretary of the Lawsohtun Farmers’ Association, says vegetables grown organically in the locality are still in demand because of the high quality.
At present, the farmers are busy cutting and making bunches of mustard leaves, a winter produce, and supplying more than 100 bunches everyday to the market. “The green leafy vegetable is a favourite in the market, especially when it is from Lawsohtun,” said Quina Khriam, a resident of Madanrting.
“The size of the leaves is so big that a single leave can serve the entire family,” said another buyer in a huff during his morning grocery shopping.
Among other vegetables which find prime position in local markets are radish, beetroot and carrot. While the first one grows round the year the last two are found in April.
“The radish is ready for harvest,” said 48-year-old Marbaniang who took to farming in 1996.
With time and technology, farming in Lawsohtun has also changed and for the first time this year, “we are going to try our hands on tomato in a polyhouse that we received as a grant from the government and we are also going for broccoli”, said Marbaniang.
The government is pushing for organic farming in the state and creating awareness among growers on the harmful impact of chemicals on health and soil quality.
Joyful Diengdoh, assistant secretary of the farmers’ association, said since the soil in Lawsohtun is fertile, vegetable growers eschew chemicals lest they destroy the micro-organisms in the soil which help in plant growth.
“We have been taught about organic farming by our ancestors and we are trying to follow it. It keeps the soil and the vegetables healthy. Therefore, the only manure we use for our vegetation is cow dung,” Marbaniang said. “Also, chemicals can affect the water resources and pollute the air,” he added.
Despite the dedication, the farmers here face numerous imepediments and are often cheated by vegetable vendors.
The association that was formed in 2008 started receiving government aid only in 2017 with a subsidy in manure and training programmes.
The growers complained that their authentic organic produce when reaching local markets loses their pride.
“They are mixed with other non-organic vegetables. Also, we are exploited in the market as vegetable vendors take them at a low price and sell them at higher prices,” said Diengdoh as other members gathered at Marbaniang’s field nod in agreement.
Vendors also deceive buyers by falsely claiming non-organic vegetables as products from Lawsohtun. “This is unacceptable. We put in so much effort only to be victims of deceit. We feel a separate market will help boost organic farming in the state. We urge the government to set up an organic market to provide level playing field to all organic farmers,” the association echoed.
Marbaniang explained that a separate market will also help health-conscious consumers to get the authentic produce.
There are natural hazards too as the farmers depend on rainwater for their vegetation. With global warming and climatic distortions, farmers often face problems.
“It is like gambling with the weather. We need a proper water resource for farming. During monsoon, we pray for rain, more rain means more production and little water is safe for the winter and by the month of February we are over with water. February and March are the most important months as during these months we sow and harvest,” said Marbaniang.
Diengdoh agreed saying farmers have to wait for rain for irrigation as there is inadequate supply of water.
Financial crisis is another factor that is crippling the farmers.
Farming needs labour and of the 20 members of the association only five are men and the rest are women. So for manual work, they have to hire workers for ploughing. “The land needs to be cleared, ploughed, fenced and since we are less in number, we need to hire people to do the work. Financial assistance and other facilities like irrigation from the government will help us produce more vegetables,” said Diengdoh.
“Earlier, when there were cattle owners near the irrigation land manure was cheaper and we didn’t even need a carrier. But today, we have to hire a truck to carry the cow dung, someone to load it in the vehicle and another one to carry to the spot, only for the manure to reach there we shell out around Rs 5,500,” he added.
Pointing at a barren chunk of land, Marbaniang said had there been enough water supply that land would have been all green by now.
“Farmers are the backbone of the nation; therefore we urge the government to provide us with enough financial assistance to boost farming. We work very hard the whole year and at the end, the profit we get is peanuts,” said the farmers, who are enthusiastic about promoting healthy food in the state but are impaired by hurdles.
The members of the association attend training programme in and outside the state. But with the inadequate amount of stipend provided by the government for training leaving farm work is a bad idea.
Also, the farmers want to know about the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and whether it is available in the state. “When farmers in other states can avail themselves of the card why can’t we? Why isn’t the government promoting it,” asked the association members.
However, a senior state government official said every farmer is entitled to get KCCs but only 30 percent have received them from banks as many villages in Meghalaya are unbanked. “But farmers in Shillong can definitely get them,” he added.
When asked about the gradually fading organic vegetables grown in the village, Lawsohtun headman Mitchel Wankhar said, “I always encourage people to take up organic farming. I tell everyone to either nurture a kitchen garden or a farm. But the association here is doing a fantastic job despite all hurdles and I appreciate their efforts. I hope vegetables grown in Lawsohtun will regain its name and popularity in the market soon.”