For years, Michi Yatung watched his fresh vegetables go to waste—grown with care, but with nowhere to sell.

“Sometimes, we had to throw them away,” he recalls quietly. Like many farmers in Ziro Valley, he wondered if his hard work would ever lead to something more. Today, that story has changed, thanks to a small stall, a united group of farmers, and a shared dream of a better future.

Situated between forested hills and lush paddy fields, Ziro Valley in Arunachal Pradesh is known for its breathtaking beauty. But behind that postcard-perfect scenery, farmers like Michi were struggling with challenges that made traditional farming harder than ever: unpredictable weather, rising costs, and no real access to markets.

In July 2024, a few farmers from the villages of Siiro, Kardo, and Siibey decided they had had enough of watching their crops go to waste. With encouragement from village elders and their own determination, they formed a small vendor group. Their goal was simple: to sell their vegetables directly to people in town and earn a fair wage for their work.

They started small, setting up a modest stall in Ziro town. It wasn’t fancy, but it was theirs. Soon, more farmers, especially women, joined in. The stall became a meeting point, a place where farmers shared responsibilities, stories, and strength.

Support came at just the right time. Caritas India’s FARM Northeast program stepped in to guide the group. Itanagar Diocesan Empowerment Association (IDEA), the local partner, helped the farmers to manage the stall, track their earnings, plan crops wisely, and even form a savings group.

“IDEA taught us more than business,” says Kime Yamang, a senior member of the group. “They gave us the confidence to speak up, to see ourselves not just as farmers but as entrepreneurs.”

Today, the stall operates six days a week, collecting produce from over twenty-five farmers. Every morning, fresh vegetables including chillies, beans, lai patta, squash, and local herbs are brought in and neatly arranged. The group runs the stall in turns, keeping everything transparent and shared.

“We still follow our traditional farming practices,” says Michi Yapii, another member. “We don’t use chemicals. That’s what people like about our vegetables, they know it’s clean and fresh.”

The impact has been life-changing. On average, each farmer now earns about ₹4000 extra per month through collective sales. That may not sound like much to some, but in a rural setting, it means paying school fees on time, saving in the bank, and renewed faith in the land.

For younger farmers like Michi Amer, the initiative has opened up new possibilities. “I was planning to move to Itanagar for work,” she says. “But now I’m helping manage the stall, taking orders on WhatsApp, and even talking to regular customers from nearby areas. I feel proud to be doing something that supports our village.”

Of course, the journey isn’t without challenges. Rough roads, seasonal price drops, and the lack of cold storage are all part of the reality. But the group has adapted, learning to plan better, rotate crops, and support each other through ups and downs.

“This isn’t just about selling vegetables,” says Michi Yatung, his voice filled with quiet pride. “It’s about standing together. About restoring the value of our work, and showing our children that farming can be a future.”

IDEA’s Ratan Lal Deka, who has walked alongside the farmers since the beginning, sums it up best: “When people come together with trust and purpose, even the smallest initiative can grow into something powerful.”

In Ziro Valley, that power is visible every day in the smiles of customers, the laughter shared over early morning harvests, and the simple truth that no vegetable has to be thrown away anymore.