A nine-member self help group in Mokokchung district earns around Rs 15,000 a month by adding value to surplus tapioca and marketing it as Alishi Bhujia
In Yaongyimsen village of Mokokchung district, cassava, locally known as alishi, was for years treated as a low-value crop. It was either fed to pigs or sold cheaply in nearby markets such as Changtongya. Today, the same crop has been reinvented into a packaged snack and a source of steady income by a group of nine women who chose trial, error and self-learning over waiting for institutional support.
The Yimrongmedem Self Help Group, comprising nine women from the village, has successfully developed and marketed Alishi Bhujia, turning surplus tapioca extract into a branded product that now reaches markets in Mokokchung, Longleng and Kohima. The group currently generates a minimum monthly revenue of around Rs 15,000.
According to the group, the idea initially was to produce tapioca “milk” from cassava, a crop that grows abundantly in the village and in their own farms. However, no training or technical guidance was available from any department on processing tapioca into milk. Faced with this limitation, the group decided to explore alternative products and settled on bhujia.
The next challenge was machinery. Without prior experience or technical support, the women turned to online platforms, particularly YouTube, to understand what kind of machines could be used for tapioca processing.
Based on this information, they purchased equipment on their own and began experimenting.
What followed was a period of trial and error. Several attempts failed before they were able to standardise the product. Over time, the group mastered the process, refining taste, texture and consistency, eventually developing what they now sell as Alishi Bhujia.
Before venturing into bhujia snack production, the group said cassava had limited economic value for them. Today, the same crop has become the foundation of what they describe as their most successful business so far. The women now work together daily, producing, packaging and distributing the product under their own brand.
Unlike many rural enterprises that remain confined to local consumption, the Yimrongmedem SHG has moved beyond the village market. Their products are now sold in different parts of Mokokchung district and supplied to markets in Longleng and Kohima, with logistics currently being managed with the help of a few young people from Mokokchung town.
While production has stabilized, the group said packaging remains one of their biggest challenges. The cost of packaging materials is relatively high, cutting into profits. The women expressed hope that local manufacturing of packaging materials could reduce costs and support small-scale enterprises like theirs.
Apart from Alishi Bhujia, the group has diversified into banana chips and various pickles, further adding value to locally available produce. All members are involved in different stages of production, from preparation to packaging, reflecting what they describe as a true self help group model.
Beyond income, the women said the enterprise has brought a sense of financial independence. They said they are now able to purchase household items such as milk and kitchen utensils in bulk and manage expenses without depending entirely on their husbands. The women said they enjoy working together and find the daily routine productive.
The nine members of the Yimrongmedem Self Help Group are Tianaro, Chitensangla, Chubalemla, Akumla, Bendangtola, Rongsenpokla, Imtikokla, Akumienla and Talienla.
Despite the success, the group acknowledged that access to larger markets remains limited. Distribution units, transportation and wider market linkages are areas where support is still lacking. For now, informal networks and local youth involvement are helping bridge these gaps.
The journey of the Yimrongmedem SHG highlights how traditional crops like alishi can be reimagined through value addition and branding, even in the absence of formal training or institutional backing. From a backyard crop with little commercial value to a packaged snack reaching multiple districts, the group’s enterprise reflects a quiet shift in how local produce and rural livelihoods are being redefined in Nagaland.