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Meet Ningthoujam Bidyalaxmi, progressive woman farmer from Manipur

Meet Ningthoujam Bidyalaxmi, progressive woman farmer from Manipur

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Ningthoujam Bidyalaxmi Ningthoujam Bidyalaxmi

GUWAHATI: Ningthoujam Bidyalaxmi (28) daughter of late Ningthoujam Rajendro Singh late Ningthoujam Ongbi Maipakpi from Thangmeiband Lairenhanjaba Leikai, Imphal West in  Manipur is a young, energetic and dynamic

progressive woman farmer.

Ningthoujam Bidyalaxmi, progressive woman farmer from Manipur

One-of-a-kind - this girl seeks assistance because she aspires to break down gender barriers and become a successful farmer.

Bidyalaxmi who love gardening since childhood is the eldest of the three sisters in her family.

She has completed Bachelor in Arts in English literature from the Dhanamanjuri College of Arts, Imphal.

Her father passed away in 2006 when she was in class VIII and her mother passed away when she was studying B.A 6th th semester in 2014.

ALSO READ: NIA files charge sheet against ULFA-I chief in connection with Guwahati grenade blast

Following that, she discontinued her studies before completing her M.A. in order to focus on supporting herself and her younger sisters' education.

Bidyalaxmi's late parents left her some land.

She said, "Instead of looking for white-collar jobs, I want to put it to full use in permaculture farming (employment). I want to make money from it while also demonstrating to our society that sustainable farming is possible. Indeed, cultivation or farming has been a lifelong passion of mine since I was a child. I have finished a Permaculture Design Course. I have been doing a lot of research on farming, designs, soil regeneration, composting, plants, and so on."

 

Ningthoujam Bidyalaxmi, progressive woman farmer from Manipur

Her journey as a farmer: 

ALSO READ: NIA files charge sheet against ULFA-I chief in connection with Guwahati grenade blast  Following that, she discontinued her studies before completing her M.A. in order to focus on supporting herself and her younger sisters' education.  Bidyalaxmi's late parents left her some land.  She said,

Bidyalaxmi began a farming initiative in February this year.

The farm site is located, at a distance of about 18 km from her home, in a place called Senjam Khunou.

Initially, she excavated a farm pond to harvest water, erected perimeter fencing around the farmland for security, and constructed a road connecting the farm to the main road for communication and transportation.

"I have started the first stage of planting. To move forward, I am encountering two major issues. The issues are as follows: (1) social prejudice and (2) financial mobilisation. One of my dear and distant relatives believes that farming is solely the domain of men and that I should not even consider it. Because of my gender, they underestimate and discourage me. They are not assisting me in any way. Two, while permaculture design needs a minimum amount of investment, the money inherited from my parents has not been sufficient," she added.

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Talking to InsideNE Bidyalaxmi said, " Earth care, people care, and a fair share is permaculture ethics. It is providing employment to me as well as generating employment for others."

She has also told InsideNE that as Permaculture is different from monoculture which yields only one crop, a Permaculture food forest yields a variety of yields.

"In near future, we are planning to do value-added products from our harvest. It is my passion and I want to turn the lands inherited from my parents into a resourceful Centre for all. From the different kinds of abundance from the farm, we will learn to lead a sustainable lifestyle," Bidyalaxmi added.

It needs to be mentioned that Bidyalaxmi is also regenerating the soil by using natural solutions.

Bidyalaxmi's farming design's preliminary budget is as follows:

Constructing a barn to house the caretaker, stock seeds, and store farming tools. Including a restroom and a kitchen. The cost is estimated to be Rs. 1,50,000/-. (including labour charge).

Constructing the greenhouse and raising beds in order to grow more varieties of vegetables and prepare sprouts. The cost is estimated to be Rs. 50,000/-. (including labour charge).

She said, "If I can raise Rs. 2,00,000, I will be able to finish the design in a month. I will be able to stay on the farm for the majority of the time to provide complete dedication and protection. This is not currently taking place."

She said ,"The farm is still in its initial stages, and we will be adding new elements as they become available. We are observing, interacting with, and learning from nature as we work with it, and we are allowing nature to take its course. It will definitely take time but someday we all will see a abundant resilient self sustainable food forest in front of us. In that hope I am working relentlessly."

She further stated that the budget mentioned above is the immediate need to build up the mentioned things, the initial investments were all done from our savings. "Since these days are investment days we find not sufficient," she added.

Unfortunately "I am having difficulty raising the funds on my own. I'm looking for a no-interest loan or a donation. I would like to thank my friends and well-wishers for their help. Any kind of support in either cash or kind will be meaningful. Please support me," she further said.

 

If anyone wish to support her.. may drop a message to Inside NE and can also use her QR code given below to donate fund to help her raising fund for her farm.

Ningthoujam Bidyalaxmi, progressive woman farmer from Manipur

 

 

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Edited By: Admin
Published On: Sep 17, 2021