Horticulturist effects cardamom bumper growth in hamlet, triggers local economy

ITANAGAR: After large-sized cardamom grown in remote Anjaw district hogged headlines following a joint project taken by NABARD and National Youth Project (NYP) and helped the district earn Rs 60 crore in 2014, the efforts of Agro Gramin United (AGUN) Chairman Likha Maj has come to limelight.

Maj had started horticulture activities in 1993 to encourage the locals to tap vast horticulture potential through AGUN to become self-reliant.

He had started kiwi, large cardamom, ginger, local millet, maize, broom cultivating and marketing the produce to Guwahati to earn handsomely for him and other local farmers.

Talking to reporters, Maj recalled his experience from the past that he used to sell large cardamom at a throw away price of Rs 20/kg.

The rate went up to Rs 40 to Rs 90 then Rs 200/kg, when the villagers were lured to this wonder plant.

The rate went up from Rs 200/kg in 2000 to Rs 900/kg. He disclosed that after visiting various cardamom gardens in different states, he has removed the old plantations and planting new organic saplings developed scientifically to get ten times higher yield besides a longer lifespan.

He said that his cardamom cultivation has grown to two-lakh plantation in Poligeka to Lalgab hamlets under Kugitago panchayat of Pistana circle in Lower Subansiri district.

Almost all the locals of Pistana belt are engaged in massive cultivation of large cardamom now following the initiative taken up by the AGUN in 90s by conducting door-to-door mass awareness campaign, distributing free saplings, fencing materials and offering forward market linkage that had encouraged the villagers.

He hoped the district could turn into one of the horticulture bowls of the state given the suitable agro-climatic condition.

The annual turnover of the black gold is almost Rs 15 crore to Rs 20 crore last year and likely to cross Rs 40 crore this fiscal.