People and Process
What Farmers Learn at RRTC Meghalaya About Honey Bee!
Rural Resource and Training Center (RRTC) is an autonomous organization working with farmers and training them on sustainable farming techniques. RRTC trains farmers in organic farming and low-cost agricultural practices to make the best use of their land and other resources. Beekeeping is one such sustainable technique which RRTC offers as training to the farmers. Farmers here are trained on collecting honey, beeswax and taught how it can boost their farming produce. Honey bee culture is called Apiculture.
Bamboo Drip Irrigation: A Marvel By Meghalaya’s Native Farmers
Over 80% of the population of Meghalaya depend on agriculture and most of them own small family farms and follow traditional farming methods. A good irrigation system is an imperative for successful farming.
Meghalaya A Source For Heirloom Seeds?
What are heirloom seeds? How are they different from Hybrid seeds? Can the seeds that the Meghalaya farmers use, from one crop to the next, be classified as heirloom? These were the questions Zizira explorers had. How come the Zizira explorers thought of heirloom seeds?
A Honey Beekeeping Entrepreneur in Meghalaya
Times are difficult for job seekers. Like other states, Meghalaya too is teeming with youngsters looking for employment. At times, many youth are forced to take up jobs at levels below what they could get with their qualifications. In this scenario, the one portal of hope is entrepreneurship, and private enterprise holds promise for people who dare. Here is the story of Kong Iba Blah, mother of two, who has dared to venture into beekeeping.
Off the Grid for Years: Story of a Traditional Farmer
You may have heard of our exploratory trips around Meghalaya as we discover the hidden agricultural potential of the region. In one such trip, our team of explorers reached Mawklot village, East Khasi Hills District Meghalaya to meet a traditional farmer growing perilla seeds.
Meghalaya’s Amazing Woman Mushroom Farmer
Zizira explorers love to go out on field trips to various parts of Meghalaya to meet farmers and discover the hidden agricultural potential of the region. On one of the many farm visits that we made, led us to a lady farmer from Nongpoh, Ri-Bhoi District, Meghalaya. From her we learnt about mushroom cultivation in Meghalaya.
First Cherry Blossom Festival in India
Autumn in Meghalaya is a happening time, much to tourists’ delight. The last few weeks of balmy weather before Christmas makes it more inviting. The autumn of 2016 was extra special in Shillong! The city hosted the first ever Cherry Blossom festival in India. Hearing about it made the Zizira explorers want to find out more.
Is It a Potential for Meghalaya’s Farmers to Grow Lemongrass?
Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is a tall perennial grass grown in the tropical and subtropical climate regions of South East Asia. It is native to Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand and India. India is one of the front runners in the production of Lemongrass, cultivated mostly in the Western Ghats and the foothills of the Himalayan range.
Nothing Like the Simple Lines of a Traditional Meghalaya Dress
The Northeast India is rich in culture and traditions that are kept alive to this day. Also rich is the land of this region. We, at Zizira, a food products company operating from Shillong Meghalaya, can say that with confidence as we are locals and are in touch with our hardworking farmers. You may find out story interesting.
Meghalaya Farmers Market - Where Do They Sell Their Produce?
Zizira explorers have been chronicling stories of small and marginal farm folks’ struggles and efforts to market the harvest of their toils. Unlike in many other states of India, where goods move from the farm to the wholesale market with ease by road or rail, the undulating terrain of Northeast India makes transportation challenging.
The Story of a Progressive Farmer Who Turned Tradition Profitable
Here is a first-hand report about a farmer growing glutinous black rice in India Let us put the record straight, first. This is not the first instance where farmers from the Northeast have preserved traditional tribal knowledge about agriculture.
One such farmer, Potshangbam Devakanta of Manipur, was recently in the news too for his efforts in following traditional farming methods. He was awarded for his effort. This is what Devakanta says:
Producing The World's Finest Coffee From Meghalaya - Myth Or Dream
With coffee grown in India set to record the highest production in 2015-16 (348,000 MT as against 320,000 MT the previous year), the market for coffee is huge with many up and coming coffee outlets and startups joining in. Given that 70% of what is produced is exported, India emerges as the third largest producer of coffee from Asia.
In view of this upsurge, coffee growers from Northeast India produced 220 MT of coffee in 2014-15 which translates to a meagre 0.07% of the total production in India. However, the potential is much higher owing to the conducive climatic and topographical conditions of Northeast India.
In view of this upsurge, coffee growers from Northeast India produced 220 MT of coffee in 2014-15 which translates to a meagre 0.07% of the total production in India. However, the potential is much higher owing to the conducive climatic and topographical conditions of Northeast India.