From Setbacks to Success: Manipur farmer revives vegetable cultivation

Ningthoujam Inaocha, a vegetable farmer from Kumbi Terekha, Manipur, again finds hope and stability in his field of agriculture after multiple failures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and continued instability in Manipur.

Cultivation Details

Inaocha has planted various vegetables through cultivation on one lourak of land (an old, regional unit of land measurement).

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Talking about his plantations, he has planted cabbage (Green Hero variety), cauliflower, broccoli (Queen Magic variety), and mustard.

Focus on Mustard

Regarding the mustard variety, he continues to use the local variety as he has relied on it for many years and knows it better. He cultivated more than 3,000 mustard plants this season, and recently, in just one day, 100 bundles were harvested for sale.

By the last week of October, all crops were said to be planted. Overall, he cultivated 18,000 plants, including cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and mustard, as reported by ANI.

Crop Distribution

Among the plantation, cabbage takes up the largest share, but over 1,000 cauliflower seedlings and 3,500 broccoli seeds were still planted. Inaocha remembered that he suffered huge losses during the COVID-19 pandemic since he was unable to sell his crops.

The unrest in Manipur has been a contributing factor to the deterioration of the whole problem, and its consequences on the farm sector could already be felt as early as last year.

Optimism and Expected Income

"I am somewhat thrilled this year. And I think I will be able to properly sell my produce," he said. He also highlighted that a single season can bring an income of INR 7-8 lakhs for farmers.

Apart from that, revenue comes from both Kharif are Rabi seasons. During Kharif he plants pumpkin and other vine vegetables.

His annual income from agriculture is approximately INR 20 lakhs excluding his income from rice cultivation.

Inaocha believes that if intensive farming is adopted all over the farm, Manipur could be self-supporting and tapping its financial resources.

Farming Practices

He told that farming has become the major source through which he is able to cover all his family expenses without any trouble. Normally he depends on his own skill and traditional knowledge, practicing the usage of little chemical fertilisers and avoiding most biofertilisers at the same time. "If farming is done scientifically production can be increased further. Organic farming gives less yield but the profit is more assured," he reasoned.

Inaocha has been recognized with the Best Farmer Award three times along with other accolades for his input in the agriculture sector. He has never applied for a bank loan but was given seed support by KVK Bishnupur.

His farm is also generating local employment. Yumnam Ibemcha, a resident of Kumbi Terakha, stated that he had been working for the past three to four months on the farm with three to four other workers.

“Our working hours are not fixed. Sometimes we start at 1 pm, and sometimes we come earlier. We assist in planting veggies, weeding, and taking care of the farmland’s edges,” he explained. Farmers like Inaocha, whose conditions have improved and whose agricultural activity has increased, are optimistic that peace and productivity will bring back livelihoods to the rural areas of Manipur.