Twenty-one months ago, Rosilia from Laitdiengsai, a village in the East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya wished to adopt organic farming in her kitchen garden. She expressed her desire after attending FARM Northeast II programme meeting held at her village.

She was quite interested in FARM Northeast programme of Caritas India as it works with the marginalized farming communities to adopt traditional farming practices which is feasible to the area and leading to sustainable agriculture development.

She wanted to start organic farming immediately in her kitchen garden in a larger scale within a controlled temperature under net shade or poly-house”, expressed Rosilia when asked by partner staff of Social Service Centre (SSC), Shillong. Net shade house or poly-house save the crop from extreme climate and pest, this structure is covered with the special net which stabilises ultraviolet radiation.

Rosilia was advised to avail loan or subsidy from agriculture department but she showed her reluctance as she was afraid of taking loan or subsidy in any form from the government.

Her anxiety was resolved by informing about different loan and subsidies available without trepidation. Rosilia enthusiastically applied for a “Shade-net Scheme” from the KVK, that was facilitated by the SSC staff. The scheme took 9 months to sanction but her patience paid at the end and her shade-net was ready by January 2017.

It was just a beginning and afterward, Rosilia started doing organic farming in all the 50 rows as desired earlier. She also enhanced her knowledge of organic farming by learning preparation method of bio-pest repellant, organic growth promoter, berkley compost and vermicompost.

Rosilia can now cultivate a variety of vegetables in her net house (Greenhouse) by practicing organic farming and earn Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 annually from her produce. She is able to successfully produce and sell lettuce, turnip, beetroot, mustard leaf, capsicum, coriander, garlic, cauliflower, cabbage, peas and chilies in the local market without the use of chemical pesticides.

Today, she is an inspiration and encouraged 8 more farmers to practice organic farming in their field. Rosilia’s motivational message on organic farming at World Environment Day 2017 celebration encouraged Phisdalin Kharkongor from Mawmuthoh village to leave her agricultural land for complete one year to practice organic farming.

Doordarshan Kendra, Shillong and the Krishi Vigyan Kendra covered the success story of Rosilia on organic farming promotion. Rosilia now plans to produce only one type of vegetable in her 50 rows of kitchen garden to generate and enhance more income.