Tengnoupal farmer paves the way for poppy-free hills
Source: Chronicle News Service / Ngangom Suraj

Imphal, January 18 2024: Paving the way for a poppy-free hill district of the state, a Tengnoupal farmer belonging to Maring tribe has set an example by showing that one can contribute towards maintaining ecological balance while also becoming self-reliant through integrated farming by growing Mosambi (sweet lime) along with profitable vegetables and fruits.

Dangshwa Kantrima Daniel Maring (40), son of DK Mothilphun Maring and DK Todar of Konaitong village under Machi sub-division in Tengnoupal district has become a successful Mosambi farmer, producing more than 1000 kilograms per season which he sells at rare of Rs 150-200 per kilogram.

He has not only set an example by showing that growing fruit crop can be an alternative to poppy cultivation which is known for its destructive impact in the society, but also by becoming a pioneer, inspiring more youth to follow his path.

In an exclusive interview with this daily, Daniel recalled that though he belongs to the family of a village chief, his family, since his grandparents, had lived in poverty which he resolved to change and decided to become a successful farmer as he had no other options due to lack of exposure to higher education.

Recalling that he used to work as a teacher before becoming a farmer, Daniel said that he did not have his heart on the job and decided to become a grape farmer after he saw a grape farm in Kakching.

In 2014, he bought 100 grape saplings at Rs 100 each spending all the money he had but unfortunately none of the saplings survived as he lacked professional knowledge to care for the plants.

Daniel said.

With more forest tracts in the nearby hill ranges cleared continuously for poppy cultivation and more people engaged in the illegal cultivation as it provided regular wages, he wanted to stop them from doing so as it impacted the ecological balance but could not, Daniel conceded, adding that he always wanted to control the burn and slash agriculture in the hills and practice settled farming.

Luckily, in 2015 he met the then Chandel district horticulture officer Brojen during a function held in his village, Daniel said, adding that through the officer he received about 200 Mosambi saplings but about 40 of them perished as he was too busy at that time participating in election campaigns for a candidate for the district council from his village.

Then in 2019 his expectation and dedication towards farming changed in a positive way when the saplings he had earlier planted began to bear fruits, Daniel said, adding that each tree produced about 30-50 kilograms of Mosambi.

In 2021, Tengnoupal WDO Nabachandra also provided him about 800 lemon saplings, 90 litchi and many other varieties of fruit bearing trees including avocado, Daniel said.

He expressed hope that the addition of a diverse species of fruit bearing plants will enhance productivity, which in turn will also increase his income.

Daniel revealed that he has plans to grow papaya which bear fruits within a short duration and rear bees to help pollinate the fruit flowers so that he could sell honey as well.

Acknowledging that providing a government job to every household is almost impossible, Daniel encouraged younger generations to strive for becoming not only self-employed but also job provider.

He hoped that turning the already cleared forest lands into fruit orchards will help maintain the ecological balance and ensure sustainable livelihood to many people.

He appealed to all the people residing in the hills to practice settled farming rather than burn-and-slash form of agriculture which are very harmful to the nature.

He suggested that practicing settled and organic farming in the hills will be as productive, if not more, than those farmlands in the valley.

(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, Lamphelpat, Imphal.

Dr IndiraThounaojam, Information and Publicity Officer and Head, PRMM Cell, CAU, Imphal can be contacted at [email protected] to know more about this report and related information) .

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