Assam: Aaranyak empowers farmers with backyard nursery skills
Aaranyak empowers marginalised farmers in Assam with training in lemon and black pepper propagation to boost sustainable livelihoods and income.
In a significant move to bolster sustainable livelihoods, the conservation organisation Aaranyak recently conducted a specialised training session for marginalised farmers in the Kohora River Basin. Held at Englepathar village, the initiative focused on teaching practical backyard nursery management and the propagation of Assam lemon and black pepper through cutting techniques.
The one-day workshop was designed to provide hands-on expertise, offering a low-investment pathway for local communities to generate supplementary household income. By mastering these skills, farmers can produce high-quality planting materials right at their doorsteps, potentially transforming small-scale backyard plots into profitable nursery enterprises.
Practical techniques for sustainable growth
The training was led by progressive farmer Phumen Terang, who served as the primary resource person. Participants received direct instruction on several critical agricultural processes, including:
- Shoot Selection: Identifying and selecting suitable mature shoots and runners for successful propagation.
- Soil Preparation: Creating the ideal soil mixtures to ensure healthy plant growth.
- Nursery Management: The technical steps of filling polybags, planting cuttings, and providing essential subsequent care and maintenance.
For communities that currently rely on seasonal agricultural work or daily-wage employment, these skills represent a shift from subsistence farming to entrepreneurial opportunity. The training leverages existing agricultural knowledge while introducing more efficient, commercial-grade methods.
Turning skills into income streams
The impact of the training was immediately felt by the participants. Dorsing Engti, a resident of Englepathar village, noted that the session filled a crucial knowledge gap. Previously, the community relied heavily on seed-based propagation, which offered limited control over plant quality.
“Through this training, I learned how to prepare and plant Assam lemon and black pepper through cutting techniques and manage a nursery,” Engti shared. “I hope to apply these techniques at home and sell the saplings to PIRBI, creating an additional source of income for my family.”
Aaranyak’s Larbeen Teronpi further encouraged the farmers to embrace homestead cultivation and value addition. She emphasized the importance of starting small and gradually scaling up nursery activities to meet market demands.
Market linkages and community support
A vital component of the initiative is the connection to existing market structures. The training introduced farmers to potential linkages with PIRBI, a community-based business initiative operating within the Kaziranga–Karbi Anglong Landscape. This connection ensures that the saplings and produce grown by farmers have a clear route to market.
Furthermore, Aaranyak highlighted the role of PIRBI’s Community Food Processing Centres located in the Diring and Kohora River Basin regions. These centres are instrumental in helping local communities process and add value to various products, such as:
- Turmeric
- Ginger
- Tapioca
- Black pepper
- Moringa
By combining advanced propagation skills with established processing and market networks, the program aims to create a resilient economic ecosystem for the farmers of Assam.