People and Process
Agro-Entrepreneurship Grows Money
With all the aid money that’s thrown at international development, very little is spent supporting what actually enables it--entrepreneurship. Developed countries got that way in large part due to thriving small businesses, so why not build entrepreneurs in developing countries?
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.
RRTC Shillong: Development of Farmers & Sustainable Farming
Meghalaya, a state in the Northeast of India, with its pristine lands and hilly terrain, is home to a number of naturally grown herbs and spices. Zizira, based in Shillong the capital of Meghalaya, sources select, high-value, produce directly from the farmers and reaches them to households in other states of India through our eStore.
Read our story – how our conscious business is making a difference to the community of farmers. As part of our work, we stay in touch with organizations working with farmers. The Rural Resource and Training Centre (RRTC) is one such.
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.
Organic Industry In The US: Genesis, The Good And The Bad
Organic Industry in the US was worth $ 43 Billion in 2015. We are picking up the threads from an earlier post, which brings you highlights from an interesting book. The story so far:
- Zizira explorers come across a breezy book by Peter Laufer, on the truth behind food labels that carry the stamp of ‘Organic’.
- The book is about the author’s hunt to find the origin of two products labeled ‘Organic’, which he buys off the shelves of two major retailers in the U.S. One, a packet of walnuts from Trader Joe’s, and the other, a can of beans from Natural Directions.
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.
Is ‘Organic Food Label’ A Guarantee? A Journalist Finds Out
Zizira explorers have always been on a quest for hidden potentials of the region, so the farmers in Northeast India can benefit. We have picked several gems, stories which we have shared with you. Recently, when digging deeper for a better understanding of the farmers and their produce, something hit us.
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.