FARM NE - IV
Promoting sustainable crops, organic farming, indigenous seeds and food sovereignty with farmers, anchored through Caritas India.
Working with communities across West Khasi Hills, Meghalaya since 2007 — through skills, knowledge, groups and institutions that lead to inclusive and sustainable development.
Nongstoiñ Social Service Society (NSSS) is a Non-Governmental Organization registered under the Meghalaya Society Registration Act 7, of 1990 on 7th May 2007 with its register office at Nongstoiñ, West Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya.
Nongstoiñ Social Service Society (NSSS) is working for the uplift and empowerment of the poor, marginalized people and communities. It empowers them with the necessary skills and knowledge that enables them to obtain inclusive and sustainable development by adopting different developmental approaches like animation programmes, formation of groups, institution building, capacity building and training.
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Promoting sustainable crops, organic farming, indigenous seeds and food sovereignty with farmers, anchored through Caritas India.
Smt. Smida Shangpliang, a 51-year-old single mother from Laitlawsnai village in Meghalaya, has transformed her life and the lives of others through her agricultural endeavors. With 1.5 acres, she cultivates paddy, squash, leafy vegetables, and potatoes, relying on agriculture and labor for her family's livelihood. She participated in a one-week training on Integrated Farming in September 2022 through the FARM NE program, leading to the adoption of sustainable practices, including making bio-fertilizers and vermicompost. With support from NSSS, she established a small enterprise in squash juice processing, equipped with a processing machine.
Introduced to buckwheat through ATMA training, she initially cultivated 5 kg, which led to a first harvest of 20 kg sold at ₹80 per kg. She expanded her cultivation to 0.5 acres, achieving a harvest of 38 kg in June 2023.
Smida has become a role model in her community, promoting knowledge sharing and inspiring six other farmers. She aims to strengthen market linkages and continue advocating for buckwheat farming's benefits. Smt. Smida Shangpliang exemplifies resilience and innovation, significantly impacting her community's agricultural practices and sustainability.
The FOCUS program in Meghalaya aims to enhance agricultural productivity by promoting farmer collectivization. In Jakhong Village, where 95% of the 121 households rely on farming, the Iaitylli Producer Group was formed to improve ginger cultivation. On March 28, 2021, the Iaitylli Producer Group (20 members) was established to boost ginger production as a primary income source. Members contribute ₹20 monthly and meet regularly to coordinate efforts. They received ₹1,00,000 from the FOCUS program, which they effectively revolved to support their activities.
The group achieved an average ginger yield of 8,000–10,000 kg per farmer, with an average income of ₹400,000. This initiative has significantly improved the socio-economic conditions of the members. The Iaitylli Producer Group demonstrates the effectiveness of collective farming and government support in enhancing agricultural productivity and farmer livelihoods in Jakhong Village.