‘Nagaland should learn from Meghalaya’s farmer cooperatives’

March 17, 2025 4 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Shillong | March 17

The Wildlife Conservation Society India (WCS-I) under the Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme (ITHCP) Phase II organized an exposure trip to Meghalaya for farmers from six villages under Athibung sub-division in Peren district and Dimapur from March 9-15.

The trip aimed to introduce the farmers to successful cooperative based farming models, sustainable farming practices, value-added procession and market driven agricultural initiatives.

Twelve farmers from the villages of Beisumpuikam, Manglumukh, Pellhang, Nsenlo, Ikeisingram, Nkio ‘B’ were accompanied by representatives from WCS-I, Robin Eastment and Sourav Dutta, who facilitated their interaction with Meghalaya’s farming communities and experts.

Over the five days, the group visited various farming cooperatives, processing units and eco-tourism hubs, witnessing firsthand how local farmers were leveraging technology and collaboration to improve their livelihoods.

The farmers visited Umdhihar village pineapple and ginger processing unit; The Ottohopfenmuller Innovative Learning School in Shillong; Thadmuthlong and Laskein villages for organic Lakadong turmeric growing and procession; Diengkynthong for honey processing and bayleaf sorting; Mawlyndiar and Sohkynduh for bayleaf and pepper; Lwai for piggery and eco-tourism; Syntung for strawberry, honey and broomstick.

A woman farmer interacts with farmers from Nagaland during their exposure trip to Meghalaya. (Morung Photo)

Among the many eye-opening experiences, one aspect that left a deep impression on the farmers was the strong collective effort among farmers, Self- Help Groups (SHGs) and cooperative societies in Meghalaya.

The visiting farmers were particularly inspired by the Integrated Village Cooperative Societies (IVCS) in Meghalaya, which play a crucial role in bridging the gap between farmers and government support. The IVCS helps farmers access financial aid, training programs and direct market linkages -ensuring they receive fair prices without falling prey to middlemen.

“Back home, we mostly work in isolation, everyone struggles on their own. But here, farmers, SHGs and cooperatives come together ensuring that no one is left behind. Whether its getting fair prices, marketing their produce or securing government aid, they do it as a team. This is something we must learn and implement,” Achang Pame, one of the participants from Ikiesingram village remarked.

Khristianyile, a woman farmer from Nsenlo expressed admiration over the role played by the women and the SHGs in Meghalaya- how they handle everything starting from farming to processing, packaging and selling.

One of the biggest challenges faced by farmers in Nagaland is unfair pricing and exploitation by middlemen. The visiting farmers observed that cooperatives in Meghalaya ensured that farmers were not cheated.

Farmers also lamented that despite the existence of various agricultural subsidies, loans and financial support programs, many farmers in Nagaland remain uninformed or struggle to navigate bureaucratic hurdles to access them.

Paolun Thomsong from Pellhang village said many farmers in Nagaland feel left out due to poor dissemination of information about government schemes. “We hear about different agricultural schemes on paper but there is no proper mechanism to inform and assist us in availing the,” Thomsong lamented.

Farmers on the trip also expressed frustration over the difficulty for small-scale farmers to benefit from state and government initiatives- particularly securing agricultural loans.

“Applying for a loan is a nightmare. We are asked documents we don’t have, and bank reject our documents because we lack formal documentation or a guarantor, who should be a government employee,” Thomsong highlighted.

The farmers suggested that the Nagaland government could take inspiration from Meghalaya’s models while emphasizing stronger cooperative societies and easier access to government schemes and loans.

Many felt that Nagaland’s agriculture could benefit greatly if the government facilitated village-level awareness programs, supported SHG led processing units and helped farmers connect directly with markets to avoid middlemen.