Greenland Nursery was established in 1997 by Abul Kalam and H K Chophy primarily to sell forest plants and saplings to government departments. It is situated in Veterinary Colony, opposite New SBI ATM, Burma Camp, Dimapur, Nagaland.
It was Nagaland’s first nursery at the time. Hasina, Abul Kalam’s daughter, with Chophy as her mentor and guide is managing the business after her father, Abul, unfortunately passed away.
Mokokchung Times reached out to Hasina for a quick interview to learn more about the first nursery in Nagaland.
MTimes: Hasina, thank you for the opportunity. So, how long have you been looking after the nursery since you succeeded your father?
Hasina: It has been a year and a month since I took over the business from him.
MTimes: It is the oldest nursery in the state. Do you have any memories of doing this work with your father? How did he introduce the type of work he does to you?
Hasina: As long as my father was alive, he never let us manage the business. He wished for us to study. Dad kept us away from the business; it wasn’t until the day after he passed away that we entered. We were aware of the business he does because when we were kids, our nursery was in Nagaland Gate Dimapur where our house was within the nursery. Later it was shifted to present day location.
MTimes: Do you have any memories of your father and his business partner HK Chophy talking about the day they made the decision to launch this company? If you know, do take us through the history of how it might have all started.
Hasina: Before starting the nursery, my father worked multiple jobs and ran several businesses. In 1997, when he was running a plywood business and was experiencing significant losses, one of the officers or members of Khuda Mill suggested that he start a nursery because business then was very different from what it is now. Since starting a nursery wasn’t novel to him—they’re quite prevalent in Lanka—he managed to create a tiny one. This also happens to be where we currently reside… Hollock, Khokon, and a number of other woods were planted; at the time, only forest wood saplings were traded, and exclusively for the benefit of the Forest Department.
My dad was involved in the manufacture of plants, and H K Chophy was receiving orders from the departments of Agriculture, Forestry, Land Resources, and Wasteland. They partnered and have been working together ever since.
MTimes: What kinds of varieties are this nursery well-known for and how big is it?
Hasina: The demand is ever-changing, but at first it was for forest wood saplings. Up until 2010, there was hollock, khokon, kodom, teak, gammari, eucalyptus…then orange, inchak, bamboo, elaichi, and tea. Later, plantations of rubber, arecanut, sandalwood, coffee, litchi, mausambi, lemon, and lime were established. Today, indoor and outdoor plant varieties, fruits, flowers, ornamental palm trees, forest wood plants, and landscaping plants are all available. We are known for our variety, and customers from all over Nagaland go to great lengths to visit us in order to view our collection and the variety we have to offer. We are a buyer friendly nursery…we are the oldest and one of the biggest nurseries in Nagaland…3.5 bigas approximately.
MTimes: Many reviewers appear to be satisfied with the price and level of quality this nursery offers. Just how much effort one has to put in to be consistent with the demand?
Hasina: The work never ends because we have to keep up with the constantly changing demands of our clients. Older clients come looking for older plants, while younger clients are looking for new, trendy plants. Newly constructed homes are looking for fruits. The need is endless because many clients are looking for rare varieties while others are simply following the latest trends. Due to the seasonal nature of the business, there is occasionally no time for eating. During the day, we are at the nursery, and at night, we refresh the list and availability at the source. We also need to learn about the plant care, soil mix, and care for each plant.
MTimes: Additionally, you indicated that you provide to government agencies. Please provide more detail on that.
Hasina: Land Resourcesdept, Forest dept, Wasteland dept, Agridept, and Hortidept have taken plants from our nursery; initially, they bought 98% of the plants on their own; however, now that many people have their own farms and do private plantations, 90% of the plants are private and 10% are government.
MTimes: Do you export it to other states as well?
Hasina: Yes, we sell to numerous customers from other states. Manipur, Arunachal, Shillong, and Assam residents frequently make purchases.
MTimes: How does your typical workday look like?
Hasina: We check to see if the plants have been watered every day when we wake up since it is essential to do so. We are open until 6 o’clock.
MTimes: Do you have any additional employees?
Hasina: There are 7 staff members/workers that work in the nursery, and both the sales team and working staff regularly clean the nursery throughout the year.
MTimes: Which type of flower or plant do you think sells the best?
Hasina: There is nothing like bestselling plants. There are currently more than 300 different plant kinds, and the plants are unlike anything else. Because each person’s needs are unique and their demands vary, it is impossible to say what sells best because fruits are sold just during certain seasons while flowers are sold all year long.
MTimes: Do you concur that operating a nursery in this manner is successful? What recommendations would you give newcomers in this business?
Hasina: Yes, it is; we have been surviving for years. For newcomers, my advice would be that people want good plants that can enhance the beauty of their homes, as people purchase plants to make their homes stand out. Whether the plant falls under the category of fruits, flowers, indoor ornamental plants, or another, if it is healthy and attractive, people will purchase it. It must also be pleasing to the eye. As in the fashion business, where trends are reproduced with little modifications over time, even old, common plants will draw consumers if they are attractive and healthy. The same is true of plants; species that grandmothers once had but were later disposed of continue to resurface.
Be patient in business; some plants take years to sell, while others are sold the day they arrive. Some days, the sale is good, while other weeks, there are no sales. Just be patient and keep working. Advertising is crucial; we need to get the word out about what we have to the people who are looking for it. Therefore, promote yourself in whatever way you can.