By K D Kharkongor
As a regular reader of The Shillong Times, I wish to write in support of Jerome K. Diengdoh’s letter, “Broom cultivation a bane or boon?” (ST March 18, 2025). I happen to be a recently retired officer of the Agriculture Department, Government of Meghalaya and had written this article in Khasi in 2008. It is being translated to English by Napolean S Mawphniang because of the urgency of the situation.
As pointed out in an April 23, 2008, article in The Times of India, the difficult and worrying topic is whether the earth can sustainably feed a projected 9 billion people by 2050. Experts and researchers face significant hurdles as the world’s population continues to rise at a rate of about 78 million people per year, as stated in the article. Social discontent, food shortages, rioting, political instability, starvation, and a rise in failing states are some of the dire consequences that the globe can face if food security is not prioritised, according to these experts.
For instance, there has been a notable increase in the population of Meghalaya. The population more than doubled from 23,19 lakh in 2001 to 29,64 lakh in 2011. A rise of 11.5 lakh over 16 years brought it to 34 lakh (3.47 million) by 2017. There is an immediate need to address food security in light of the fast population expansion in Meghalaya, as the state’s population could surpass 40 lakh by 2021 if current trends continue.
Growing broomsticks may be a lucrative business for farmers, particularly during peak demand when the grass sells at a premium. When demand for broom-grass decreases, though, farmers encounter challenges. More so than crops such as corn, ginger, bananas, vegetables, fruit trees, bananas, and colocasia, nutrient-intensive crops like broom-grass significantly deplete soil nutrients. Comparing soil quality before and after broomstick cultivation reveals the impact on soil fertility; cultivation highlights the importance of proper soil management to maintain long-term productivity.
When broom-grass takes over an area, the once fertile soil turns stony, hard, and dry, making it unfit for growing other crops. The poor condition and dryness of the soil makes it difficult to restore it to its original fertile state; it’s a lengthy process. Soil cracking is prevalent in many broom grass cultivation regions, particularly on slopes or steep terrain. Erosion and landslides are the results of rainfall seeping into these fissures over the monsoon. Rats, according to farmers, will dig tunnels into broom-grass patches, consume the roots, and then burrow out again. These tunnels reduce soil strength and, in the long run, make erosion and landslides more likely.
Unfortunately, instead of percolating into the earth’s subsurface, much of the heavy monsoon rains that fall on Meghalaya flow as runoff to Bangladesh’s lower valleys and plains. The reason behind this is that the soil in regions where broom-grass is grown is hardened, much like the soil found on pine tree farms. The soil in broom-grass areas becomes dry again as soon as the rain stops, regardless of the amount of rainfall. Even during the height of the monsoon, nearby paddy fields still face water scarcity, which reduces rice harvests and causes many of the fields to be abandoned.
The effect on nearby crops is another negative aspect of growing broom grass. The soil becomes too dry to support fruit trees, areca nuts, betel leaves, and black pepper during the dry months beginning in September. Specialists in agricultural research in the Pynursla Block, as well as farmers in places like Nongtyngur, Wahkdait, and Ri-Bhoi, have noticed these shifts and know all too well the problems they cause.
An analysis of Meghalaya’s agricultural output shows that the state is still far from being food self-sufficient. This is due to a number of issues, including
1. Cultivable land has been in short supply due to the increasing population, which has led to higher demands for food, water for drinking, and irrigation. Enhanced water requirements for household purposes are also a part of this.
2. Currently forests are cleared for broomstick production, despite the fact that these forests are important water catchments, natural reservoirs, and habitats for numerous birds and animals. Paddy fields in the Ri-Bhoi, East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, and Jaintia Hills Districts, which are located at an elevation of around 800 meters above sea level, used to be extremely productive all year round due to the practice of multi-cropping. This land could be used for fall rice or other crops such as potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, lettuce, chilli peppers and other veggies after summer rice. Unfortunately, the water supplies to these paddy fields have dried up due to the rise in broomstick farming, which has reduced their production. If food production in Meghalaya stays poor, more money will leave the state to buy food from other states, which will further hurt the economy here. Experts have warned that future generations of a state that imports its food will live in abject poverty.
3. Insect populations that cause crop damage often increase when forests are taken down, which further complicates matters for farmers. Farmers frequently use a variety of hazardous, powerful, and expensive pesticides to control these pests. All forms of life are in danger, and this has an impact on farmers’ revenues as well. The loss of forest ecosystems is leading to a decline or migration of birds, which play a crucial role in controlling bug populations through their feeding habits. Warming temperatures, caused in part by deforestation, pose a threat to all kinds of life on earth. This effect is most obvious in healthcare facilities, which often have lower patient volumes in the winter and much higher volumes in the summer.
Farmers in the Ri-Bhoi District and the East Khasi Hills (Khat-ar Shnong) have been using rep shyrti (jhum cultivation), a method of cultivation for crops like colocasia, maize, potatoes, and paddy, for some time now, and they have not allowed the soil to regain its fertility. Broom grass, on the other hand, is becoming more popular as a crop since it acts as a permanent plant by staying put in the soil for a long time. Prolonged broom grass cultivation dries out the soil nearby, which is a problem for farmers in the area.
Getting Meghalaya to a point where it can produce enough food on its own is a challenge, and the issues mentioned above are only a few of many. The following problems arise as a result of broomstick cultivation, to sum up:
1. The dryness and hardness of the soil have become major obstacles to water conservation and rainwater harvesting. This means that precipitation can’t seep into the ground but instead runs off into the lower plains.
2. Drought conditions will make it next to impossible to grow other crops in the soil if broom grass output drops throughout the following decade. For generations to come, this will pose enormous difficulties.
The good news is that a number of broomstick growers in the Sonidan, Iamkhon, Mawkani, Marngar, and Umtrai villages of Ri-Bhoi District (Mawhati and Nongpoh constituencies) have voiced their intention to end the practice. The last fifteen to twenty years have yielded nothing but trouble for them. During our conversations, these farmers shared their desire to go back to growing fruit crops, areca nuts, and other crops and trees that are good for the soil.
(Translation from Khasi by Napoleon S Mawphniang)