Tseminyu farmers visit organic farm in Meghalaya, CIH Medziphema

DIMAPUR — Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA), Tseminyu district, organised an inter-state farmers’ exposure tour to Lawsohtun Organic Farm, Shillong, Meghalaya, on April 4.

A team of five farmers and two ATMA officials from Tseminyu, Sinlo Khing and Chenobu Seb visited the organic farm, an update stated.

The team was received by the farm manager Lambok Marbaning, who guided the farmers through the field and showed them various sections of vegetables crops including beetroot, lettuce, strawberry and coriander etc., spread over 10 acres of land.

The manure used in the farm was cow dung-based organic fertilisers. 

The most attractive unit of the farm was the strawberry unit because of its high quality fruits, size, taste and aroma compared with other strawberries in the markets, it stated

The farm manager also told the visiting team that tomatoes grown in the farm weigh upto 1 kg per piece and were sold at INR 200 per kg, while king chillis were sold at INR 800 per kg, fetching a high profit margin.

On challenges faced by the farm, he said that irrigation was a major problem as 70 percent of the farm’s water requirement is depended on natural rainfall and only 30 percent is taken from the water harvesting pond.

Marbaning further disclosed that his farm does not use any synthetic fertilisers, chemical insecticides or pesticides, as they make their own unique organic fertiliser from various plants.

Earlier on April 3, ATMA Tseminyu also organised a farmers’ exposure tour to Central Institute of Horticulture (CIH) at Medziphema under Chümoukedima district.

The team, comprising of five progressive farmers and two ATMA officials, visited different units of the horticultural nursery and model plantation site. Senior technical assistant of CIH, Mhasizotuo apprised the team of the importance of selecting varieties and species of horticulture plants, grafting and budding techniques, pruning at right time and management of weeds and soil for horticulture crops.

The tour team was also given a demonstration on how to extract fibres from the banana plant to provide an alternative source of income for the farmers.