National awardee nurseryman shares success tale
Source: Chronicle News Service / Ngangom Suraj

Imphal, March 20 2024: "Your work is going to fill a large part of your life and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work and the only way to do great work is to love what you do," says national awardee nurseryman Yumnam Parun Meitei, one of the very successful nurserymen in the state.

Hailing from Takyel Kolom Leikai in Imphal West district, 49-year-old Parun Meitei, son of (late) Yumnam Kokngang, used to work in a private firm enduring undue pressures every single day, until he decided to quit and start crafting his own career following his passion.

A recipient of Adarsh Vidya Saraswati Rastriya Puruskar Award on "The Best Nursery 2023" presented by Global Management Council, Ahmedabad, Parun is a living example of the saying that one can be successful in any field if he/she has the gut to pursue their dreams with dedication and persistence.

Starting off in a small greenhouse measuring 18X40 feet in his front yard in 2008, Parun registered his nursery under the name "Imphal Nursery" and has today become one of the most popular nurseries in the state housing over a thousand varieties of fruit bearing tree sapling, spices, medicinal plants and flowers including some of the rare and exotic species such as black apple, seedless guava also known as red diamond guava, wood apple, seedless litchi, etc.

At present not an inch of his around 'one sangam' land has been left unoccupied with plant saplings and one would simply end up buying as may plant species as he/she could if they happen to witness the diverse varieties of plants he has.

Apart for others, what is even more significant about his nursery is that he has dedicated himself in conserving and producing many rare and endangered native fruit trees and medicinal plants through scientific methods so that the saplings bear fruits way faster than those in the nature.

In an exclusive interview with The People's Chronicle, Parun Meitei recalled that he barely had enough time both for himself and his family and was under constant pressure while he was working in a private firm.

He had always wanted a happy and peaceful life but was never sure of what and where to start his own career until 2008 when he came across Arambagh's Nursery during a trip to Kolkata.

"I was blown away with the number of varieties of plants at Arambagh's Nursery.

I immediately decided to start my own nursery," Parun said, adding that, he along with one Kh Ibochou from his own locality, started setting up a bamboo greenhouse measuring 18X40 feet and planted around 10,000 Champa saplings for the first time.

With all his saplings sold out almost immediately as they were mature and ready to bloom flower, his better half Yumnam (O) Linthoinganbi handed him a sum of Rs 5000 on April 17, 2008 so as to purchase necessary equipment and expand his business, he recounted.

While pointing out that every man needs a supportive partner, Parun said that his better half has always been inspiring him to focus on his career even during low times.

He conceded that there were times when he thought of giving up when his plants were infected and thousands of plants withered, but his wife encouraged him to follow his passion.

She also shares 75 per cent responsibility of his business and would oversee the nursery wherever when he is out of station, Parun added.

Apart from producing varieties of plants, Imphal Nursery also provides free training on techniques of grafting, air-layering and other scientific methods of plants production to students and trainees of SAIRAM, CAU and ICAR, Parun stated, adding that, he is always ready to share skills and knowledge with anyone interested in the same field.

According to Parun, the society pays more respect to a grade IV government employee than a successful farmer or a self-reliant person and it is the reason why many youths and students who have graduated in agriculture, horticulture and other allied subjects, are unwilling to start their own farms or apply their knowledge and skills in the real world and instead keep on chasing after government jobs which are sometimes not even related to their subjects.

Parun cautioned that one should choose a career where they can dedicate their heart and soul.

While appealing to the younger generations especially those who opted agricultural and allied subjects to apply their skills in the real world so as to make the future of many education-deprived farmers brighter, Y Parun also expressed his gratitude to South Asian Institute of Rural and Agricultural Management (SAIRAM), Langjing Achouba professor HSS Shekhar Sharma, Scientist L Brojen, CAU HOD RK Dilip and ICAR joint director I Meghachandra for all the support they provided through his journey to become a successful nurseryman.

(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.

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

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