Manipur: Organic potatoes from Ukhrul district struggle to find a market

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In a collective effort to promote sustainable organic farming practices, members of the Huining Ato Baptist Church in Ukhrul district harvested around 200 bags of organic potatoes on Saturday and Monday.
Approximately 250 church members participated in the two-day mass harvest drive at the potato farm, which spans about five acres in the Shur hill range under Huining Ato village, located around 25 km from Ukhrul town.
For refreshments, the freshly harvested potatoes were cooked and served to members along with hot tea, a treat of the day.
According to Rev Maya Ningshen, pastor, Huining Ato Baptist Church, the project was carried out to build a community committed to organic agriculture principles as well as utilise the revenue generated from potato farming for the infrastructural development.
Rev Ningshen informed that around 28 bags of potatoes were planted using the traditional method without any fertilisers from the market during March as part of the project.
Each bag which cost Rs 3500 was procured from Imphal and the church members dedicated their time and energy to the plantation and further process for the success of the project, he said.
“We don’t even use manure vermicompost as fertilisers but after the plantation, all we did was clean the weeds and harvest directly. This shows the soil itself was naturally fertile,” said Rev Ningshen.
However, despite an abundant harvest, the church members are still struggling to find a proper market to sell the organic potatoes.
“We have reached out to a few departments, including the horticulture department for market but we are yet to get any confirmation,” he said.
After the completion of the potato harvest, the church members are planning to grow other vegetables like beans and peas. However, for the long-term project, varieties of plants, including fruit-bearing plants, will be planted at the same location, the church leader informed.
According to Esau Vasha, a senior leader of the church, potato farming was first initiated in 2009 at the same location with 30 bags of plantation and harvested around seven trips of trucks.
“Our church was under construction and after discussion for several projects in aid of the church building, we decided to do a potato farming. Fortunately, the yield was quite good and that’s how we could build our church from the income generated from the farming,” said Vasha.
Vasha also recollects that during the first potato farming project, even before all the foliage was fully dried back for harvest, the potatoes were already seen on the outer layer and whenever it dug out, a huge bunch of potatoes usually came out. It was an abundant harvest, he added.
However, he observed that this year’s lesser harvest is likely due to delays in the plantation and insufficient rainfall during the plantation season.
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[@XZGH110]

Our hilly organic potatoes taste even better than any meat 🥓sold in the cities.........the soil looks extremely fertile 😮

[@ChengleiHanjaba]

Brother we need to reduce the middleman commission.
Retailers sold at Rs 50 Per kg at Imphal which is very costly for daily wage earners and lower middle class

[@wajarabapunshi638]

True.

[@shimreiwungvarah5448]

Thank you EastMojo for the coverage.

[@dennischingpen-gs5zn]

Some Leaders / ngos / Govt.should arrange transportation to sell in DIMAPUR .. ,

[@kapilarora6328]

Still people Happy more then the big cities

[@adimgonmei9666]

It's the best potato from the hills

[@kapilarora6328]

Sikkim manipur aasam Darjeeling arunachal all states have raise there voice strongly and vote these kind of politicians

[@batmanofnortheast]

❤❤❤maybe one day I'll be business partners with them and use their organic potatoes for my enterprise God willing

[@Biophilic758]

Wish those potatoes were being marketed to Arunachal

[@joshuablaze9946]

one can make unlimited dishes and snacks with potatoes. none should be wasted just put some money and make bora, french fries/fingers, pakora, potato bread, chips etc and sell in the market. we just have to put some ideas into our potato 🥐🫔🍟🍟🍟🍟🌝🧠😇

[@Rahul016-d6k]

Imphal needs Potato. Don't mind it.

[@Zambia974]

❤

[@lelias6223]

Value addition

[@bikksh2650]

Lots of potential for horticulture

[@HB-wx3rk]

Why not sell in imphal?

[@yaiphuakhakpa227]

It is due to KUKI road blockade. These potatoes are sought after in IMPHAL

[@zawngchalkiller9431]

Due to ur continuous lies after lies that the war like situation continue... See urself in a mirror before pointing at others🖕

[@pulotozhimo-jd2yp]

Your new subscribers❤sir😮

[@jacobchishiswu.22]

Harvested abit early should have wait atleast 15 days ..

[@shimreiwungvarah5448]

Unfortunately, due to incessant rainfall, we are compelled to harvest.

[@Rahul016-d6k]

​@@shimreiwungvarah5448 Hey bro in Imphal we can't find potatoes in bulk. Please bring here.

[@naomiisaka6364]

Wisht to buy some.

[@FM-hg6gk]

I want to purchase but very far😢

[@myhobby4546]

Kuki noisu sumai touro. Mi khatna hou leino

[@liant89]

Come and sell in Lamka we will buy all your potatoes

[@bijuterang42]

❤