The second wave of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the lockdown has not only made life difficult for organic farmers to sell their produce but no supply of seeds to sustain is a cause of worry for many.
One of these is the organic farm at Lawsohtun area in the outskirts of the city.
Lambok Marbaniang, who practices organic farming for ages spoke to Highland Post about the problems faced by the farmers in the area and said with acute shortage of water they have not been able to procure seeds both from the market and the Agriculture department.
Marbaniang who is also the President of Lawsohtun farmers’ Association said, “Our farmers are still managing from the seeds saved last year and another problem faced by the farmers is application and renewal of the car passes from the block office including the application of passes from the DC office for those into home delivery to go to sell them at the market permitted at Anjalee point.”
He said unlike last year, this year few people come to the farm to buy their produce. Marbaniang also lamented that the State government has also not done enough to promote organic market in the State, but appreciated the efforts of local MLA, Hamletson Dohling for setting up an outlet to sell theirs produce in the area.
“We are hopeful that once this outlet is functional, there will be more publicity of our organic products so that the livelihood of our farmers here improves,” he said, informing that from about 40 farmers on the farm, some have also started growing new products like the pink organic tomatoes, Australian watermelons, strawberries, besides other herbs and medicinal plants.
He also said that owing to lack of government certification they have to sell their organic produce at the same rate as those non-organic vegetables and fruits sold in the market. This incurs a loss to the organic farmers who are putting in lots of labour and effort to grow them, he added.
Marbaniang further stressed that farmers need financial support right from preparation of the field, maintenance, manure, till harvest and the government should make more effort to assist them.
