Farm women in rural areas work hard in their family smallholdings, helping to feed their households. These women have less voice in their communities, no assets of their own and receive not much personal income from their efforts. To make a change and difference in their living and to create an individual identity, a group of six women from Aliba village in 2011 came together. They shared the same ideologies and principles and had a common purpose- to make a name of their own in the society and contribute to their families.
They named themselves Longjem SHG which means ‘Unity’ in Ao dialect. Right at the nick of time, NICRA project came to their rescue. A sum of 25,000/- was provided to the group through the project. With the amount, these six fervent young women wholeheartedly settled on a plan of action to meet their vision and resolved to take up vegetable cultivation.
Their plan of action was to cultivate off-season cucumbers and other high value vegetables along with other additional livelihood activities. Off-season cucumber cultivation would play a major income generating role.
The group had the vision of working shoulder to shoulder supporting each other as they believed in “Little Drops of Water Makes the Mighty Ocean”.
The net income they earn from cucumber cultivation comes up to 33, 50,000/- approximately. Other high value vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, knol khol, sweet corn, maize etc. are also cultivated earning them an additional income of 70,000/-
The Longjem SHG has come a long way. Their hard work, commitment to their crystal clear vision and persistence despite difficulties has paid off.
They now operate a joint savings account. From the earnings, they have now been able to procure household necessities including refrigerators, laundry machines, inverter, kitchen appliances and even carried out home renovations. Some of them have also started engaging in poultry and piggery farming. The group has also been felicitated with the prestigious District Level Best Farmer Group Award under ATMA, Mokokchung in the year 2018 during the National Women Farmers’ Day programme.
Their message to the young generation is “Problems always comes with solutions around us. We just have to say-never say die and keep looking for options”.