Around the world, rural youth in developing countries are leaving their family farms to seek out employment opportunities in other states. The youth from Arunachal Pradesh are left with no choices but to leave their villages for income opportunities. The youth of Old Champu village in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh is no exception. However, the second wave of the deadly pandemic saw the reversal of these youth to their villages in the absence of no work.

“While working with the communities in our project villages, we came across much such youth, who returned due to the ongoing pandemic and we thought of involving them in some income-generating activities”, Said Mintu Mosahary, Coordinator, Seva Kendra Arunachal East (SKAE).

The promotion of traditional farming practices has been one of the major components of the Caritas India FARM programme supported by Misereor, Germany. SKAE while working in the villages of Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh has been striving hard to promote the cause especially among the youths and this situation was a golden opportunity. Team SKAE tried to motivate the youth returnees to take up agricultural activities for income generation and this mainly of commercial cultivation of crops like Ginger, turmeric, maize, and chilli.

In the present practice, the youths are engaged in cultivating seasonal crops like bitter gourd, cucumber, pumpkin, and beans etc. The youths were also motivated to take up other IGAs like traditional handicrafts and handlooms.

For any ethnic community, it is important to maintain its unique identity. When such culture and traditions are linked to income generation, the acceptance especially among the youth is generally observed to be highest. SKAE while implementing the FARM programme has a separate institution for training on handicrafts and handlooms.

As of date, 11 youth have started practising cultivation along with their parents in their farmland. Two youth girls after having learned the art of weaving have started weaving Tangsa Gale (wrap around) and scarf. The girls are already selling their products in the nearby market with a price tag of Rs 2,500-3,000 per Gale and Rs 500-600 per scarf. “It was very hard for us to do the task but with the handholding support of our parents who are experienced farmer make the impossible, possible”, says miss Rumi Tikhak. As of now, they have sold 20 pieces of Gale and 15 pieces of scarf.

The boys engaged in agriculture have also earned Rs 3,000 to 5,000 per head by selling their seasonal crops. They are expecting an income of Rs 30000 – 40000 from their commercial crops.

The youths planned to extend their work in traditional agricultural practices as well as in food and clothes. By observing the interest and income of 13 youth, other youths of the locality are also interested to follow their track. SKAE plans to take forward such models of income to the rest of the project villages to ensure the target community’s income.