From Our Correspondent
Baghmara, March 8: The Garo Hills region – barring the plains belt, has always seen challenges of a gargantuan scale when it comes to multiple cropping. Most places in Garo Hills take up just a single crop during the summer which lasts up to the month of September when harvest season begins.
The lack of irrigation is the primary reason for the region taking up single cropping with water being the main reason for it. While rainwater is the primary source, the dry season during the winter makes multiple cropping an impossible task.
However, a move that was taking shape and recently advancing by the office of the District Horticulture Office (DHO) in South Garo Hills (SGH) is opening up farming in a completely new light and in the meantime, transforming rural livelihoods, one family at a time.
How it came about:
The Simsang River, the largest perennial river that originates from Garo Hills runs through the districts of East and South Garo Hills – originating from the upper reaches of the Nokrek Range. With the river always having plentiful of water, the idea was to use the water source to power farming in the lower plains of the river near Baghmara.
The plan, adopted by the farmers, was to use land along river banks and lands where water can be channeled through the drip and sprinkler irrigation system from rivers to make it cultivable and that is where the Simsang River came in.
“The main motive is to bring into the knowledge of other farmer counterparts from other districts to adopt settled cultivation contrary to jhum that is still being largely practised in West Garo Hills, East Garo Hills. We also needed to work out how within 3 to 4 months, farmers can enhance income in addition to other commercial cultivation,” said the DHO, Kapil Swett.
Kapil, who has been posted for the past 4 months as the DHO said the success of the initiative was completely down to the team of officials and ground staff.
The team stated that they also wanted to share the same knowledge of this experiment with other districts so that food security could be maintained even during the winter months and people could be self reliant to a greater extent.
So what was the initiative?
The initiative, driven by DHO, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare department through the convergence of state and centrally sponsored schemes such as Per Drop More Crop (PDMC), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and various state vegetable development initiatives, it provides farmers with a complete package.
This includes high-yielding vegetable seeds, essential farm inputs, knowledge and support for targeted irrigation, enabling precise cultivation on fertile riverine beds during the dry winter season.
“Complementing this, a significant number of farmers also cultivated traditional heirloom seeds, preserved and passed down through generations. This dual approach has not only boosted productivity but also safeguarded agricultural biodiversity and local agro-cultural heritage, creating a unique market niche for these indigenous varieties known for their distinct flavour and resilience,” added Swett.
The DHO added that it was team work by employees of the office that actually ensured the pilot project became a success – with everything that was produced being completely organic and chemical free.
“The strong demand for fresh chemical-free vegetables not just in markets across South Garo Hills, but also in markets in and around Tura further ensured remunerative prices. In just one season, these interventions have significantly boosted farmers’ incomes, reduced fallow periods and showcased the immense potential of riverbank farming when supported by scientific methods and government schemes,” felt the DHO
While aggregating exact production figures from the diverse mixed plots remains challenging, early indicators are positive.
“My family now has fresh vegetables daily from our riverbank plot, and the excess we sell provides a steady minimum income ranging from Rs. 70,000 to Rs. 80,000 from 0.5 hectare during the winter months,” shared Mary R. Marak, a participant from Nengkong Songmong village”.
Preliminary assessment indicates that approximately 110 hectares are under vegetable cultivation, with total production estimated roughly at around 1500 to 1800 metric tonnes. Minimum income per participating farmer is provisionally estimated at approximately Rs. 1.40–1.50 lakh during the winter season.
The first phase of the project included 373 families with the DHO asserting that expansion would take place in the coming years – given the initial success the intervention brought about.
For the initiative, the department provided High Yield Variety (HYV) varieties of cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, carrot, tomatoes, potatoes, pok Choi, sweet corn among other plants while the farmers themselves brought along heirloom seeds that included sweet potato, roselle, etc minil meraku and chili.
These crops were planted using a mix variety pattern with the farmer maintaining irrigation through various methods while the department helped with the expertise and monitoring, drip and sprinkler irrigation sets, planting materials, organic manure, water lifting pump sets, water harvesting tanks as well as technical knowhow.
As per the farmers, their products have actually reached markers in Baghmara, Mahadeo, Maheskola, Chokpot, Gasuapara, across South Garo Hills and some even in markets in and around Tura. Some farmers say that some produce even reached Dudhnoi in Goalpara district of Assam.
The winter vegetable cultivation along the Simsang River and other riverbanks highlights the potential of riverine farming as a sustainable income enhancement and rural employment for similar areas across the state.
