Like many people in Nagaland’s rural community, Kukis seemed to be facing food and livelihood insecurity.

Located in the Peren district of Nagaland with Almost 93 households, the people were engaged in agricultural activities especially the shifting cultivation of rice, maize, yam, tapioca, pumpkin, chilli, ginger, beans tomatoes etc. Increasingly erratic climate change, age-old farming traditions, low productivity, and farming practices were creating new obstacles for the farmers to feed their families and create sustainable livelihood opportunities.

Development Association of Nagaland (DAN), a Caritas India partner while implementing the FARM programme facilitated several consultation and planning, meetings with the beneficiaries of Phaijol villages and helped them to undergo trainings on Demonstration and promotion of seasonal and multi-cropping, knowledge sharing, and exchange of indigenous seeds, knowledge sharing on food sovereignty and ownership and optimum utilization of available resources.

The programme has facilitated the formation of the Phaijol farmers club with 18 men and 5 women driven by the desire to being self-sufficient and independent, the members came forward with the idea of collective farming with their learning from the capacity building programme facilitated by DAN. With the support of Village Gaon Burah (village headman), they took up yam farming in a piece of community land measuring just more than a couple of acres.

In 2020 they cultivated yam and after 8 months of hard work, they received a profit of Rs 15,000. This was encouraging for the group and they never looked back. Seven members of the group were engaged in collecting agricultural products from every member and used to sell in the markets, which is 16 Km away from the village. The group also got an opportunity to showcase and sell their products in an organic vegetable festival held at St. Xavier College, Jalukie. They are utilizing this money for managing the expenses of refreshments during the meeting and work in their garden.

Currently, they are planning to expand their cultivation and install trellises for vegetable production.

They plan to grow multiple crops like beans, bitter guard, cucumber on the trellises and below the trellises brinjal, lady’s finger, chilli, mint, coriander, etc.

The group also got the opportunity to participate in organic Kisan Mela where they exhibited some of the traditional handicrafts of the bamboo basket, traditional shawls, and makhelas (wrap arounds) to sell. This encouraged and motivated them to promote their indigenous organic agriculture products to the market to enhance them financially.

In times of events and festivals, the group members take active leadership in society. The group is progressing day by day and is an asset to the villagers and community. Phaijol farmers club is yet another small beginning for the people from a place unknown to many.

Mr. Jamang, Phaijol Farmer’s club Chairman expressed that “we are so grateful to DAN for showing and guiding us to grow in healthy ways, for the multi-cropping system of farming and also to earn profits we deserved”