Communities takes action!

Rice variety from Apatani plateau harvested in Mechuka valley

In one of its initiatives, Future Generations Arunachal (FGA) introduced rice variety from Apatani Plateau in Mechuka Valley. The Apatani rice variety was introduced on an experimental basis to see whether the alpine area rice variety would be suitable because of the similar climatic condition of Mechuka and Apatani plateau. From earlier trials of the farmers, it was found that the rice variety of the tropical areas like Assam did not flourish well in the alpine climate of Mechuka.

To carry out this experiment, FGA mobilized the women’s group led by Mrs. Lindu Goiba of Dorjeeling village of Mechuka valley to cultivate the rice variety brought from Ziro. Earlier, the women’s group members from the village were sent to Ziro for an exposure visit to get a firsthand experience of rice cultivation technique of the Apatani community. After coming back from the exposure trip, the women’s group started cultivation of rice in a 15 x 20 meter size plot of land. The first batch of paddy crop was harvested last month. The total yield was 27 bags of paddy from the plot. With this successful experience the women’s group of FGA now plans to further increased rice cultivation in their land. This exercise is a successful demonstration of one community learning from the best practices of another community.

With sustain and extensive cultivation of rice by the villagers, the food security could significantly improve in Mechuka valley. The partnership and support of the State Government can further broad based this small effort to cover the whole of Mechuka valley. In this way, most of the fallow land of Mechuka valley can be brought under cultivation.

The example of FGA women’s group is also now being emulated by other community members. Villagers like Kamlera Morsing also started rice cultivation in his land after seeing the rice cultivation of Mrs. Lindu Goiba and her group.

Besides growing rice, now some farmers also started rearing fish in Mechuka. Though it is against the relegious tenets of the Memba community to kill living things, after exposure to rice cum fishy-culture of the Apatani community, the farmers of Mechuka tried rearing fish in the rice field. Later this fish were shifted to ponds. This experiment successfully demonstrates the viability of rice cum fishery even in Mechuka valley. With further development of fishery, many of the wetland of Mechuka valley can be converted into fish ponds thereby enhancing the local economy. Now most of the fish are imported all the way from the plains.

In the same manner, women group members are also growing vegetables in the kitchen gardens. This initiative has improved nutritional intake as well as the income of the villagers. Now, these women’s group is also actively working with the agriculture department in many of its schemes and programmes.

Learning from the success of rice cultivation experiment, now the farmers like Dorji Khandu Goiba of Dorjeeling village also wants to grow Apatani bamboo in the region. Successful import of Apatani bamboo will greatly enhance the availability of local material for daily usages. Most of the empty slopes of the valley are very suitable for Bamboo plantation. Support and partnership of the State Government with the local community can make this materialize. One day, in the near future perhaps one may see groves of Apatani bamboo in Mechuka valley.