Gateway to Sustainable Change

West Jaintia Hill farmers have found the answer to their most serious problem – how to feed their families. The FARM Northeast program has given a bucket of solutions to uplift the community.

Located amidst the beautiful landscapes of Meghalaya’s West Jaintia Hills District lies Iongthma – a village with 109 households and 838 inhabitants, deeply rooted in agriculture, particularly ginger cultivation. Despite their firm hold on agrarian traditions, the community faced a daunting challenge – feeding their families in the face of dependencies on leased land.

The turning point arrived on December 20th, 2021, when an awareness program, initiated by the Thadlaskein Block of West Jaintia Hills District, aimed to instil a sense of collective action among community members. The program emphasized the power of unity and imparted essential skills for livelihood.
Fast forward to 2022, and the community not only absorbed these teachings but emerged as custodians of their destiny. Monthly meetings transformed into autonomous group activities, echoing the resilience fostered by their earlier participation in National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) training sessions.

In 2022, a transformative change swept through Iongthma with the arrival of Facilitating Agriculture Resilient Measure (FARM) Phase IV. Executed through Jaintia Hills Development Society (JHDS), FARM IV revealed a stark reality – the farmers in Iongthma had no land of their own, cultivating on leased plots. Undeterred, the FARM initiative, in partnership with Caritas India, set in motion interventions to uplift the community.

The turning point unfolded in June and July 2023 when Jaintia Hills Development Society (JHDS), a Caritas India partner organised specific training for Iongthma farmers. The curriculum ranged from vermicompost and weed compost to bio-pest repellent, organic vitamins, fruit tree plantation, pickles making, candy making, and juice production. It was during these months that Ms Ribhaki Tyngkra and her group, fuelled by newfound knowledge, ventured into the realm of vermicompost production.

The results were remarkable. Within 95 days, the “Tyllilang SHG” produced 27 kgs of manure from vermicompost. Ten kgs were distributed among group members for cultivation, while the remaining 17 kgs were sold in the local market at 50 rupees per kg, kickstarting a fund-raising initiative. Tyllilang SHG’s success became a beacon, inspiring other farmers in the village to embrace organic agriculture.

In the ripple of this transformative wave, Ribhaki Tyngkra approached us with a new vision, as shared by Francis Langlein, Field Programme Associate (FPA) FARM. This vision unfolded into the creation of “Kyrshanlang SHG,” a group eager to delve deeper into vermicomposting and other field activities. JHDS FARM IV wasted no time, providing them with a two-day training session.

Iongthma’s journey, from a village tethered to leased land to a thriving community practising sustainable agriculture, stands as a testament to the transformative power of knowledge, collective action, and targeted interventions. The stories of Tyllilang and Kyrshanlang SHGs resound with the potential for positive change that can be unlocked when communities are empowered with the right tools and information. The FARM Northeast program, acting as a catalyst for change, continues to sow the seeds of empowerment and resilience in the heart of West Jaintia Hills.