Ukhrul man secures livelihood in organic farming
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang

Ukhrul, July 24 2023: Organic farming is a sustainable form of agriculture that focuses on producing healthy produce without the use of chemical and synthetic fertilisers.

Organic products are fast gaining popularity across the world due to the health benefits and the focus on maintaining the natural environment.

In line with this, local farmers in Lunghar village are leading the way in organic farming and growing organic produce and, in turn, secure their livelihood and Jorcheng, a picturesque tourist spot located about 25 km north of Ukhrul town, has become a hotspot of organic farming.

One such local organic farmer is Nin-gam Kazingmei, a 74-year-old man from Ukhrul district's Lunghar village who has found his livelihood in organic farming post-Covid 19 pandemic.

Despite his age and the adversities the pandemic had brought about, Kazingmei is managing to make ends meet through his modest organic cauliflower farm.

In a brief interaction with The People's Chronicle at his village, Kazingmei related that he deeply felt the impacts of the pandemic on regular farming with market prospect fast shrinking.

But he was determined to take charge of the situation.

With his wide experience in farming, he chose to take a leap of faith into cauliflower farming.

"Soon after the Covid-19 lockdown, I decided to take up cauliflower farming in 2022 and after much persistent effort, the yield is getting qualitative and rewarding," he said.

Today, Kazingmei's cauliflower farm yields enough to sustain himself and his family.

He believed that he would remain with cauliflower farming till he can work.

Kazingmei said that he typically earns around Rs 60,000 from cauliflower during each season.

"My farm also produces some other crops but cauliflower is one that fetches me most income," he said as he loaded his cauliflowers into a van that would take his products straight to Imphal.

He explained that his earning is not much and is only able to meet the necessities of his family but he believed that producing organic products is what keeps him engaged.

According to Kazingmei, Imphal and Ukhrul town are the main market for his farm produces which are in high demand because of being organic.

Regarding the popularity of organic farming in his village, he said that Lunghar Village Authority has set strict restrictions against use of chemical fertilisers across the village.

"This has encouraged all local farmers to engage themselves in organic farming like me," he said.

Moreover, a diligent farmer Kazingmei has also developed an organic farming system based on mixed crop rotation that has enabled him to produce other varieties of vegetables including cabbage, chilli, beans, corn, potatoes, and peas.

"After harvesting cauliflower, I normally take up plantation of these vegetables to supplement my income," he added.

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