The unprecedented pandemic has resulted in the nation-wide lockdown, disrupting the economic stability of the country. Even after the lockdown, the uncertainty prevails over all the sectors. The urban and rural areas were battered equally in terms of livelihood and income.

The rural economy majorly faced the struggle of disrupted food supply due to new protocols of social distancing, restricted mobility, shortage of labour and funds at both buyers and sellers’ level.

Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy faced challenges in harvesting, manpower and selling the produce. Northeast India predominantly faced this crunch where farmers were only dependent on the agricultural produce. The situation was much worse for the women who are responsible for running the house.

FARM Northeast III programme supported by Caritas India, through her partner have been trying to promote smallholders for income by organizing training based on livelihood generation. Social Service Centre (SSC), one of the partners of Caritas India in Meghalaya while following the suit facilitated one poultry among Self Help Group (SHG) members to boost their income. Several short- and long-term strategies are part of FARM Northeast III programme developed to support the smallholders for ensuring their sustenance and dignity during the crisis.

With the funding support from Misereor, SSC organised a poultry management training to the SHG group at Rural Resource and Training Centre (RRTC) Umsning, in Ri-bhoi district of Meghalaya. SSC supported the group by distributing 100 poultry chicks which was further equally distributed among the members to rear in their own sheds during December 2019. The training focused on increased productivity, protection from disease and overall management of poultry farming.

Liansilda Songthiang, one of the SHG member from Jongksha village in East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya earned ₹ 30,000 by selling the poultry during April & May 2020. During the lockdown, when all the markets were closed Liansilda sold her chickens at the rate of ₹ 600 to 800 per piece.

During the pandemic time, she could sell indigenous radish provided by Caritas India through SSC to the villagers and also sell indigenous radish seeds to the farmers club at the rate of ₹ 1300 per Kg. She distributed the radish leaves freely to her neighbours especially to those who were suffering from kidney problems as traditionally, radish leaves are considered good for the kidneys. She also cultivated ginger and turmeric which was sold at the village level. In order to promote more turmeric and ginger powder, Caritas India also supported her by providing the grinding machine which helped her in compounding her income to ₹ 90,000 per year over the last one year.

Liansilda was impressed to see how a Zero Energy Cool Chambers (ZECCs) works and she decided to construct one after returning from the training. This was a genuine need for her as she was growing a lot of agricultural produces.

“It is such a happy feeling to see money coming my way when I had nothing,” says Liansilda who has set an example and is willing to volunteer and inspire her fellow community members to take up such entrepreneurship. Caritas India salutes her spirit and wishes to see more of such leading examples in the days to come.

Liansilda goes to show that hard work pays and pays really well in difficult times like the ongoing pandemic.