By Ronald Syiem
NONGSTOIN: Klestar Syiem, a 58-year-old farmer from Khliehmawlieh a small hamlet in West Khasi Hills became a successful farmer and the first to introduce the growth of strawberry in the district which was considered unsuitable for the fruit due to climatic conditions.
Syiem has become a well-known farmer and a master trainer in different agriculture departments and for introducing strawberry cultivation in West Khasi Hills.
Speaking to The Shillong Times at his residence at Khliehmawlieh, Syiem said that his passion and determination helped him in pursuing his dream.
Syiem was not able to walk properly since the age of 13; however the disability did not stop him from fulfilling his dream and doing his work as a farmer.
Though not able to wear shoes since one of his feet is totally disabled; bare footed, Syiem travelled to many states in India and abroad to attend workshops and trainings on agriculture.
“I was watching the BBC news about strawberry plantation in California and since that day I was so excited to know more about strawberry plantation,” Klestar recalled.
‘I went to meet the District Horticulture Officer (DHO) of West Khasi Hills, Rakesh Kumar to enquire about the matter but was made fun of and teased by the officials who said that strawberry will not grow in any part of West Khasi Hills since the climate is not suitable’, Syiem told The Shillong Times.
‘It was when I attended a workshop in Shillong, an officer in charge of strawberry planting in Umsning gave him 50 strawberry saplings’, Syiem told.
In April, 2005 his garden turned red with Sweet Charlie strawberry from California. Overjoyed, the 58-year-old farmer who proved that strawberry plantation is possible in Nongstoin than in any part of Meghalaya, went to the horticulture office with two buckets of Sweet Charlie strawberry that he planted in his garden. Syiem has proved the officials who ridiculed him wrong.
‘The DHO sent the staff to conduct an inspection later that evening to find out the truth but everyone was shock to see that his garden has turned red with strawberries’, he told. In 2005, he received a parcel of 750 saplings of different varieties of strawberry from Calfornia which the DHO had ordered.
He won the first prize at a strawberry festival held in Shillong in 2007 with positive feedback that the strawberries from West Khasi Hills are tastier among other strawberries grown in the state. Syiem grows strawberries on 3 acres, but due to heavy rain and the pandemic this year, has affected his strawberry market.
Syiem also started the nursery mission of strawberries like F-1, Wintandon, Camarosa and Sweet Charlie, he became the master trainer of the Department of Horticulture since 2009.
Syiem after conducting his own research about the climatic condition in the area, started to expand his agriculture business by planting other fruits like Kiwi, Avocado, Apple, Dragon Fruit, Lagoon, Peach and Plum.
For four years now his Kiwi has hit the Nongstoin market, in the first year itself he was able to produce up to more than 400 Kg.
Syiem hopes that in the years to come Apple, Dragon Fruit and Avocado will be also available in the market.
“I learnt both scientific techniques and organic farming but I prefer organic farming” he said.
‘I have entered into contracts with buyers for market linkages and earn handsomely after deducting all expenses. The income is bound to go up in the years to come when all the crops start yielding”. He is happier now and he has the right to be called a farmer, he said.
He delivers training to motivate youth and farmers to take up sustainable farming. His new 7 hectare farm which cost more than Rs 12 lakh will be operational soon he said.