Woman transforms Tamenglong oranges into preservative delights
Source: Chronicle News Service / Ngangom Suraj

Imphal, February 15 2024: Though high in demand, huge quantity of oranges of Tamenglong district, which are known for its unique sweetness, often end up unsold every season owing to poor transportation network and market.

Fortunately, a woman has stepped forward with an initiative to turn the unsold oranges into juice and market the same in the capital city, Imphal besides the neighboring states.

The initiative is not only helping her become self-reliant but also giving a life changing opportunity for many orange farmers in Tamenglong district.

The woman namely Judith Newmai (42), wife of Nam-thonbou Newmai of Langmei village under Tamei sub division in Tamenglong district, is a teacher by profession.

In 2023, she piloted a batch of orange and roselle under the brand "Gaga" which translates as "Jewel" in Liangmei language.

Through her initiative, oranges can be stored for more than three months in the form of juice and transported to far off places without the need to worry for damages.

Though still in the formative stage, her products have huge potential as there is high demand in the market.

Keeping this in mind, Judith is even planning to expand her business while at the same time create job opportunities for many and inspire the younger generations.

However, she had to endure hardships and failures throughout her journey before becoming a successful Agripreneur.

In an exclusive interview with The People's Chronicle, Judith Newmai recalled that she married Namthonbou in 2006 and just few months after their marriage the couple planted some orange saplings, which gained maturity and bore fruits only after 10 years, Judith stated, while lamenting that though the harvest was plentiful, they were not able to sell all the harvested oranges due to logistics and marketing impediments and the same story continued for some years not just for her but also for many other orange farmers in her area.

Luckily, in 2022, through one T Sanajaoba, who is also an entrepreneur, she received a two-day training in her locality after which she came up with the idea of turning the unsold oranges into preservative delights, Judith said.

She then applied to Maolkeki Foundation, an Imphal based organisation providing training to Agri-entrepreneur aspirants and after getting selected she underwent a week-long residential training programme and was awarded a grant of Rs 25,000 in January 2023 after which she began her business, Judith explained.

Initially, her products which are of 250 ml bottle and cost Rs 15 each, were mostly sold locally but received the much-needed contracts for bulk transport to Imphal later on, she said.

However, owing to the present conflict in the state and uncertainty of violence, her products were instead transported to Nagaland.

Even so, her products received positive feedbacks and the demands have increased overtime, Judith said with a sense of relief, while also expressing hope to expand her business and provide as many job opportunities to locals as possible.

Pointing out that farming activities are always challenging in Tamenglong district, especially in Tamei area as it is a hilly terrain, she said that taking the advice of experts she initiated a technique called Sloping Agriculture Land Technology under which she expanded her fruit orchard and many more farmers are now able to produce higher yields thereby making themselves self-reliant and contribute to the state's economy, she added.

Stressing the need for involvement of students who have done graduation in Agriculture, Horticulture and other allied subjects, she opined that pursuing for government jobs is a great option but it is impossible for each and every one to get one.

Therefore, young students or the youth should rather apply the knowledge, techniques and methods they have learnt, into the real world and become self-reliant while at the same time try to provide jobs to many, she said.

She appealed to authorities concerned to work with honesty so that the lives of the hard working but illiterate farmers become brighter.

She hoped that if the barren hills can be transformed into fruit orchards and vegetable farms, rather than planting poppy, all the people living in the state could reap the benefit and also reduce dependence on other states for food.

(The report has been filed under the 4th Award in Scientific Journalism Programme on the topic "Successful Entrepreneurship & Students Agriculture and allied sector", organised by Public Relation & Media Management Cell, Central Agricultural University, Hq., Lamphelpat, Imphal.

For more details, information and publicity officer and head PRMM Cell, CAU Dr Indira Thounaojam can be contacted through [email protected]) .

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