By SENTILONG LONGKUMER
Mokokchung Times News
Aliba | May 11
In a first of its kind in Nagaland, a two-day Cucumber Festival in commemoration of Late Burremba Pongen, who is considered as the father of off-season cucumber farming in Aliba Village, commenced at Aliba Village Ground on Wednesday.
M. Ben Yanthan, Director of Agriculture & SNO ATMA, Nagaland, spoke at the inaugural program and praised local innovator Late Burremba Pongen for experimenting on off-season cucumber in 1984-1985 and sharing his Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) with other farmers which has provided a source of opportunity and livelihood. Pongen, he said, has earned the distinction of the most successful progressive farmer because to his persistent and patient attitude.
Yanthan stated that the original concept should be applied to other regions of the State with similar altitude and climatic conditions, allowing the cucumber GI tag of Mokokchung District to be extensively developed and farmed on a greater scale across the State.
He also exhorted and encouraged the farmers of Aliba village who grow off-season cucumbers to help extend and spread the ITK to other groups of farmers in the state. He stated that the Agriculture Department is prepared to guide and assist in this regard.
At the program, Rongsennungla Imchen, DPD ATMA Mokokchung, special invitee M. Ben Yanthan, Director of Agriculture & SNO ATMA, Nagaland, and dignitaries released a booklet on “Off-Season Cucumber Cultivation” published by ATMA Mokokchung and the Organizing Committee Cucumber Festival 2022.
Earlier in the program, Lipokmar, Convenor of the Organising Committee, presented a welcome address, followed by a short remark by Imlinungba, Chairman of the Aliba Village Council. Dr. I. Amenla, Joint Director of ATMA, gave the keynote presentation, while Sangpangchang Longkumer, EAC Ongpangkong, Mokokchung, delivered a brief exhortation.
It may be mentioned that the event’s display stands, which were packed with cucumbers and other local items, ran out of stock within hours of the event’s debut, but organizers said that more additional produce would be available on the festival’s second day on May 12.
Cucumber farming as a viable career option
Alemba Jamir, a member of the organizing committee, Cucumber Festival 2022, said that the objective of the festival was to promote the farmers to go for organic farming and area expansion of cucumber farming around the region.
While interacting with Mokokchung Times, Opang Pongen, the son of Burremba Pongen and an engineer by profession, praised the department’s efforts in organizing the grand event at Aliba village. He also endorsed large-scale cultivation of cucumbers and expansion of area coverage. He said that government support in educating the farmers and implementation of the same would go a long way toward addressing unemployment and self-sustainability.
Pongen also expressed his desire to become a full-time cucumber farmer after retiring from his professional position as an engineer, and he encouraged future farmers to consider cucumber farming as a viable career option.
A veteran cucumber farmer, Nungshiba, who has been growing cucumbers since 1991, claimed that cucumber farming has helped him support the completion of his brother’s law degree, proving that cucumber farming is a viable career option.
