Our Correspondent
Diphu, May 1 (EMN): The villagers of Sainilangso in Disobai, 45 km distance from Diphu headquarter under Singhason, Member of Autonomous Council (MAC) constituency set an example on sustainability and economic growth, where every households engaged themselves in betel leaf farming for their livelihood.
In an exclusive, Aldrin Phangcho, a betel leaf planter informed Eastern Mirror that by planting 1500 betel leaf plants, one can support their family completely.
‘We have been living in Sainilangso for the last 40 years, our only source of livelihood is on betel leaf cultivation. Every household in our village is directly dependent on betel leaf farming and through this, we could afford to send our children to schools', he stated.
He further said that, 'We are following the farming pattern as our forefathers and till now, no training has been received from any of the concerned department'.
'Individually, I have planted around 3000 but due to the betel vine disease, half of the betel leaf got infected and now, I have around 1500 plants. If the betel leaf got infected with betel vine diseases, there is no chance of recovery. For instance, if one betel leaf plant got infected than it will infect all the other plants too. So, before infecting others plants, the infected plant has to be pruned to stop it from spreading’, Phangcho added.
We earn approximately INR 4 lakh through betel leaf cultivation, which is enough to run our family, concluded Phangcho.
The production goes to nearby town Bokolia and Howraghat of Karbi Anglong.