A farmers market of natural farming was inaugurated at Jongksha village in East Khasi Hills under the initiative of the Block Mission Management Unit (BMMU) under the Natural Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM).
In 2023 Jongksha and Thangsning villages in Mawkynrew block became the two natural farming areas that grow vegetables using traditional techniques.
“It has been three years that we have been growing natural farming produce and we want to promote it in the market. With the Village Organisation (VO), the Self Help Groups (SHGs) started this farmers market here at Jongksha,” block project manager B. Khongsdir said.
She said the market was opened keeping in mind that the VO also had ideas to enlarge in the years to come. The SHGs have their own seed bank, manures, inputs etc everything is done and provided by them, she added.
Besides, external community resource persons were appointed by the office to stay in these two villages to educate farmers how to make manure and how to plant crops without the use of medicine, Khongsdir informed.
Rangbah shnong of Jongksha Olet Kharsahnoh told Highland Post that fertilizers are the source of several diseases therefore there is a need to switch to organic farming the traditional way.
“I’m happy to say that Jongksha is one of the leading villages under Mawkynrew block followed by Thangsning to practice or begin natural farming,” Kharsahnoh said.
“Initially there were only a handful of farmers practicing natural farming but now it has increased to approximately 70-80 farmers,” he added.
Internal Community Resource Person (ICRP), Banpynhun further mentioned that the farm produce is tastier and nutritious than those available in the market. “The produce which has chemical fertilizers will rot easily when you keep it at home,” she added.
Elaborating on their challenges, Banpynhun said that the biggest challenge for farmers who opt for natural farming is that they depend on the rain and wastage when there are no buyers.
The market was inaugurated by Mawkynrew MLA Banteidor Lyngdoh in the presence of Village Organisation, Block Project Manager, Self Help Groups (SHG) and others.
