Empowering communities to improve nutrition intake in Northeast India is one of the main components of the Caritas India FARM Northeast program effort to improve food security and sovereignty. Individual farmers often fail to withstand the looming internal and external challenges of agriculture. However, when these farmers come together as a collective, they can shape their future and create a better life.

Collectivisation helps in overcoming complex challenges like improving agricultural productivity, accessing input and output markets, overcoming information and knowledge barrier, accessing financial support, and adapting to climate change. FARM Northeast program has promoted collectivization in its program areas to enhance yield and optimize input which helps in building confidence, gaining knowledge, and enhancing problem-solving abilities.

In Tripura, the experience of collective farming of ginger illustrates how the common good can be achieved by combining efforts and strengths. In this case, smallholder farmers from Twikrakma-B village, Amarpur R.D. Block, expressed interest in forming ginger farming groups to enhance their economic status. Through a series of dialogues, a collective decision was made, laying the foundation for effective collective ginger farming. The group agreed to a maximum of 20 members, inclusive of widows, single-headed, and landless individuals. The size of cultivable land became a collective decision, driving them to secure a lease for a minimum of three years.

The catalyst for this change was the JUST team, one of the implementing partners of the FARM Northeast fostering motivation and encouragement. The President of Twikrakma-B took the lead, organizing the community into a Self Help Group (SHG) comprising 18 members. They secured a 1.98-acre plot through a five-year lease agreement, setting the stage for their collective venture into ginger farming.

March 2023 marked a pivotal moment as JUST, under the FARM program, organised a workshop in association with KVK in Paharpur. This event infused motivation and confidence among farmers, especially in experimenting with crops like ginger. Witnessing their enthusiasm JUST facilitated the procurement of 500 kilograms of ginger seeds and provided a water pump for irrigation.

As the seeds found their place in the fertile soil, the farmers collectively nurtured them, yielding successful ginger and vegetable crops. The first season brought in approximately Rs. 16,000, setting the tone for their burgeoning success. FARM’s support extended to piggery and seasonal vegetable seeds, generating an additional Rs. 8,500 from diverse sales.

Challenges emerged during the rainy season of July 2023, with soil erosion damaging around 0.36 acres of the ginger plot. Undeterred, the group persevered, working harder and earning up to Rs. 70,000 by the first week of November.

Sustained by the support from KVK and FARM, the group’s success story evolved with various training sessions. The 1.98-acre plot witnessed the flourishing of 12 crops, including millet, maize, chili, bitter gourd, beans, lady’s finger, pumpkin, bottle gourd, cucumber, brinjal, yam, pigeon pea, contributing to combined earnings of approximately Rs. 90,000. Expectations soar, aiming to reach Rs. 2,00,000 to Rs. 2,20,000 in the days to come.

FARM’s success in Twikrakma-B echoes in its decision to replicate this model across other project villages. More women are set to benefit from collective farming, as JUST seeks collaborations beyond ICAR and KVK to access additional resources for smallholders.

As the story unfolds, collective farming becomes a transformative force. Dr. Ranadir Sharma, KVK head, and Mr. Robert Lushai, Field Programme Associate of FARM NE program, attest to the empowering journey. The story of the Kao Than’ha SHG of Twikrakma-B Farmers collective stands tall—a testament of hope and inspiration, showcasing the immense potential of collectivization for larger benefits and collective profits.