Arum cultivation takes over paddy in Wainem
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 09 2011:
With cultivation of Arum turning out to be more profitable than paddy, the farmers in Wainem village of Senapati district have taken to Arum cultivation in a big way.
The hill cliff of the village where traditionally Paddy used to be cultivated have been taken over by Arum today with farmers earning a minimum of Rs 46,000 from cultivation of Arum over one Sangam of land.
The Sangai Express today conducted a spot inspection of the village located at the extreme point of the road extending from Keinou Bazar.
Interacting with The Sangai Express, the villagers informed that cultivation of Arum and other seasonable vegetables started in the village along with formation of self help groups (SHGs) of men and women under the World Vision of India funded Community Development Programme.
Secretary of Rani Gaidinliu SHG Majasilui explained that initially womenfolk of the village formed 10 SHGs and as beneficiaries of the World Vision of India members of these SHGs started cultivation of Arum over 4 Paris of land with the seeds provided from the side of World Vision of India.
At the beginning, the products are normally taken to Bishnupur and Imphal where one kg of Arum fetched around Rs 30.Cultivation of Arum in the village may have been started by the womenfolk with the seeds provided from the side of World Vision of India, but the profit is not shared and everything goes into the respective account of the SHGs concerned.
However, it is mandatory for each SHG to leave behind 20 percent of the products after selling off 80 percent for cultivation in the next season.
Majasilui further informed that around 1200 to 1300 kg of Arum is normally produced from one Sangam of land and from selling them at the minimum rate of Rs 30 per kg, one can earned around Rs 46,000 very easily.
Wainem village has around 50 households, and majority of the households have taken to cultivation of Arum in due of profit and less labour required in comparison to Paddy cultivation.
For rice requirement in the village, there are still some households which continue with Paddy cultivation while others earning from Arum cultivation purchase rice from market.
Apart from Arum, Wainem village is also known for production of Pineapple and Onion production.