From paddy to strawberries: Manipur farmer multiplies income through smart agriculture

At a time when agriculture in conflict-hit Manipur struggles with erratic rainfall, poor infrastructure and shrinking farmer participation, 26-year-old Khaidem Milan from Bishnupur district has emerged as a powerful symbol of rural self-reliance. By adopting year-round cultivation, mixed cropping and high-value cash crops, the young farmer has multiplied his family’s income manifold—demonstrating how innovation and persistence can transform traditional farming into a sustainable livelihood.

Hailing from Nambol Kabaw Wakching Makha Leikai under Bishnupur district, Milan began actively engaging in farming in 2020, following in the footsteps of his father, Khaidem Maipak. While his family has long been associated with agriculture, it was Milan’s intervention and willingness to experiment that brought a significant shift in their farming practices. Over the past five years, he introduced mixed cropping across their four sangam (local unit) of farmland, cultivating vegetables, fruits and flowers throughout the year instead of restricting production to seasonal crops and paddy.

Agriculture remains the backbone of Manipur’s rural economy, yet practices such as double or triple cropping—introduced to boost farmers’ income—are still rare in many parts of the state. Large stretches of arable land remain unused after harvest. Against this backdrop, Milan stands out as one of the few young farmers consistently engaged in cultivation across all seasons.

The turning point in his journey came with the introduction of strawberry as a cash crop in 2020. The decision significantly enhanced the income of the father-son duo and encouraged Milan to further diversify. Alongside seasonal vegetables such as cabbage and mustard, he began cultivating flowers—not just for aesthetics, but as part of an integrated farming approach.

“Earlier, our income from seasonal crops was very limited,” Milan said. “When we started cultivating strawberries and other fruits, our earnings increased substantially. I initially planted marigold to use it as a natural pesticide, but the flowers attracted visitors, which gave me the idea to grow more varieties.”

Today, Milan cultivates nearly 10 different types of flowers, including marigold, sunflower, dahlia, chandramukhi and gazania. The sale of flowers and nursery plants has become another steady source of income for the family.

Before the ongoing crisis in the state, Milan said their annual income ranged between ₹15 lakh and ₹20 lakh, depending on the season. While earnings have since declined due to prevailing challenges, farming continues to remain a sustainable livelihood for the family. High labour costs have compelled them to rely largely on family members for farm operations.

Despite having no formal professional training in agriculture, Milan’s curiosity and willingness to learn have driven him forward. He credits his father for imparting basic farming knowledge, which he supplemented through experimentation and online resources.

“I learned whatever I could from my father and improved through trial and error,” he said. “But I still feel the need to learn scientific farming methods from experts. Farming is better than waiting endlessly for government jobs.”

Milan also pointed out that his family has not availed any financial assistance or loans from the government, citing procedural difficulties. However, they did receive partial support from the Horticulture Department in setting up a drip irrigation system.

Farming in Manipur, he noted, is fraught with challenges—from inadequate irrigation and erratic electricity supply to poor road connectivity. Climate change has further compounded the problem, with irregular rainfall occasionally leading to crop failure and financial losses. “Still, we are facing these challenges with courage,” he added.

As India aims to become a $30 trillion economy by 2047, farmers remain central to this vision. Yet in Manipur, prolonged conflict and security concerns have restricted agricultural activity in many areas, with most farmers limited to single cropping annually. In such circumstances, the contribution of youth like Khaidem Milan in sustaining and promoting agriculture assumes critical importance—underscoring the need for greater institutional support and policy focus.

 

The story has been produced under the Award in Scientific Journalism Programme of CAU, Imphal. For further details, please contact Dr Indira Thounaojam, Information & Publicity Officer, CAU Imphal, at prmmcell@gmail.com