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Our Correspondent
Kohima, May 13 (EMN): About 75 percent of the people in rural areas largely depend on agriculture for livelihood in Nagaland. Agricultural and allied activities are not only confined to farmers but aslo to people from all walks of life in Jakhama, a village which is situated some 16 km away from the state capital city.
In this time of global crisis in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic, the youth in Jakhama village under Kohima district are playing a vital role in agri and allied activities.
Avizo Richa, a lecturer in St. Joseph's College (autonomous) Jakhama, informed that he goes to a nearby terrace field to check the family's fishing ponds and the crops in Jakhama village almost everyday.
Interacting with Eastern Mirror, he said people have realised that they cannot fully depend on the government supplies and rations especially during the lockdown period.
"People began to realise the importance of self-sufficiency of agri products," the assistant political science professor said.
When asked if the farmers in the village are harvesting enough to supply to the entire village or was it limited to a kitchen garden, Richa responded that most of the organic agri products in the village is for "self consumption and not for sale." However, he stated that there are some farmers who sell their organic products outside.
Richa, who was conferred with a captain title as an associate NCC officer, stated that some have benefitted from the contribution made by the government towards the agri and allied sector, when asked about government's initiative in helping the farmers. He, however, asserted that the government still needs to support majority of the population in the rural areas in the agri and allied sector.
"I feel and realised that the agricultural and allied items are part of our culture and tradition," stated Medosanu Rolnu, who is currently pursuing a diploma course in special education for visually impaired in Mumbai.
"Whatever situation we are in or how modern you are, we cannot ignore the contribution of agri products in our daily life," she added. Rolnu also said, "The role played by the farmers in agricultural sector is recommendable," while adding that she has realised that self-sufficiency being essential for survival during the lockdown.
According to her, the villagers are yielding enough produce for themselves. Meanwhile, keeping in mind the limited goods available during the lockdown, they also generated income by selling their vegetables to other consumers. "When all the transportation was stopped here in the village, we survived with the vegetables available here which are also sold by different farmers to others," stated Rolnu, who usually goes to the fields thrice a week.
Rolnu, who was able to reach her native village on March 20 ahead of the nationwide lockdown, shared that engaging in agricultural activities had not only provided sufficient production but could enjoy enough happiness through the simple ways of life in the village.
"You never realise the happiness, togetherness, enjoyment etc., if you are not involved in the agricultural activities," she said.
Most people's main source of livelihood is farming, stated Kevikunu Sophie, a MA student of Sociology at St. Joseph's College. According to her, agriculture not only provides food and raw materials but also employment opportunities to a very large proportion of population.
"I believe that agriculture will restart faster than any other industry because there is demand for food especially organic ones," she said.
For Nokhovinu, a 6th semester student of Sociology, farmers could make a "profitable subsistence" out of agriculture activities in one's own area.
According to Neitho, another 4th semester student of Political Science, agriculture activities in the village made him realise that "the value of money.” He added that, "organic foods are much healthier than the market foods."
Visakhoto Kharutso, a Class IX student of Government High School from Jakhama, informed that he goes to field everyday to help his parents during the lockdown.
In Jakhama, varieties of crops are grown while paddy-cum-fish culture are practiced in the terrace fields. Presently, vegetables like potato, cabbage, green peas and beans are harvested from the fields.
Varieties of wild vegetables are also found in far flung forests of the village. It may be mentioned that self help groups from Jakhama have distributed tons of wild vegetables to the needy people in the capital at free of cost recently during the lockdown.
Lately, the government has focussed more on agricultural and allied activities to meet the state's needs, especially during current crisis. Most of the youngsters have joined their parents in the fields for cultivation during the lockdown.