Kukhrusulu's story: Turning challenges into harvests

DIMAPUR — In the serene village of Porba in Phek district, lives Kukhrusulu, a hardworking woman who has turned her struggles into a story of hope and inspiration.

Until recently, she relied on daily wage labour to support her family. Despite her dedication, meeting even the most basic household needs often remained a challenge, stated an update from School of Agricultural Sciences, Medziphema, Nagaland University.

Her journey took a new direction during 2023 when she received timely support from the All India Coordinated Research Project on Vegetable Crops funded by ICAR-IIVR, Varanasi, under the initiative of centre in-charge Prof. SP Kanaujia and Scientist Dr. Moakala Changkiri, School of Agricultural Sciences, Medziphema, Nagaland University. Through the programme, she was provided with garden tools and high-value vegetable seeds such as broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, and French beans—crops well-suited to her area’s climate and soil conditions.

With determination and care, Kukhrusulu cultivated these crops and reaped a bountiful harvest. From her very first season, she earned an additional income of INR 18,450, a sum that significantly improved her family’s livelihood by sustaining their basic needs for several months. Today she is cultivating vegetables in one acre land.

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Adding to her advantage, Porba village enjoys road connectivity to the district. Kukhrusulu’s field is located just above the highway, enabling her to sell her fresh produce quickly and directly to buyers. This accessibility not only saved time but also ensured she received good value for her efforts.

Her journey would not have been possible without the dedicated efforts of Potsülü Thelüo, Agriculture Officer, Dept. of Agriculture, who played a vital role in connecting farmers with the right initiatives and resources.

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Her guidance and encouragement have been instrumental in spreading awareness and inspiring more farmers to embrace onion cultivation.

Today, Kukhrusulu proudly stands as more than just a wage earner. She is a vegetable grower, a provider, and an example of how small opportunities can transform lives when met with hard work and resilience.

“I remain deeply indebted to AICRP on Vegetable Crops and ICAR-IIVR, Varanasi for their support to marginal farmers like me,” she shares with gratitude.

“Her story is a testament that with the right guidance, even the smallest farmers can rise to self-reliance, inspiring others in the community to see farming not just as a struggle for survival, but as a promising path to progress,” the update stated.