Agriculture is the backbone of Northeast India, but it needs improvement in productivity and efficiency to bring sustainability to the sector. Some of the reasons behind this are inappropriate agriculture practices, lack of knowledge and a relevant support system. Farmers from Kolaghat village under Hezamara R.D Block in Tripura were always interested to form a group to access knowledge and technology, promote greater value addition to agricultural produce, promote investments in agriculture and create a favourable and enabling economic environment for sustainability.

Caritas India’s FARM Northeast program has promoted farmer groups to create a sense of belongingness, collective actions and empowerment in decision making. The initiative not only helped the farmers to increase their food production but also improve geographical and cultural accepted nutritional food intake.

Sambhu Debbarma, 47, took the lead to increase income through traditional farming and set the example for the other farmers in the village.

Hailing from the Tripuri Community from Kolaghat para under Hezamara R.D Block, West Tripura, he joined Kolaghat Farmer’s Club promoted by Caritas India partner Jan Unnayan Samiti Tripura (JUST).

He was always interested and was doing different seasonal crop cultivation even before he became part of the Farmer’s Club. He used to practice mono-cropping on his 7.6 acres of land. Besides cultivable land, he used to do duck rearing. His family’s annual income used to be approximately Rs. 60,000 to 65,000.

JUST helped the group to link them with different Line Departments, like the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Agriculture Departments, etc. During the field visit by ICAR and JUST, they experienced the eagerness and noticed the farming initiatives of Sambhu. ICAR representatives were impressed to see the improvement in his practices and the outcome started supporting him with different seeds. The JUST team also motivated him by training him on multi-cropping, trellis farming, and other improved practices. From there on he had been doing different types of crop cultivation and earned his livelihood. His main motto was to build up resilience by ensuring food security for his family.

Today, Sambhu’s income has increased four times and he earns approximately Rs 2,40,000 to 2,70,000 annually by selling crops like Maize, bitter gourd, lady’s finger, ash gourd, chillies, etc in the local farmer’s market and the main market. The introduction of Trellis farming has also added more nutritional items to his plate.

“I was motivated and empowered by the awareness programs conducted by JUST through the FARM NE programme,” says Sambhu. He has also received Rs. 9,000 from the Agriculture Department and a water pump from ICAR for doing tremendous farming in March 2022. He was also awarded as the ‘Best Farmer’ during the farmer’s program conducted by JUST in February 2021. ICAR Principal Scientist Dr. Anup Das promised him a power tiller which will help in preparing the soil, sowing seeds, planting seeds, etc.

Sambhu is among those farmers who are setting examples of resilience. He further plans to do more cultivation and increase his income.