Life flourishes as 'maroi nakuppi' sprouts
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 24 2010: Farmers in the States of Punjab and haryana, to name a few, might have prospered from their vast field and mechanised mode of cultivation, and the same can be copied here in this cash-strapped State to a great extent with a little entrepreneurship zeal but a lot more will-power to toil and sweat it out.

The fact that not only white-coloured jobs guarantee secure living is being proved without doubt by farmers of Kangla Sangomshang in Imphal East district where different types of seasonal vegetables are being planted for more than family sustenance when the normal rice growing period ceases.

The agriculture-based States may have advanced on their maize and rice produces but in Kangla Sangomshang the fields are being covered with large-scale cultivation of 'maroi nakuppi', a tiny grass-like plant considered to have medicinal value and preferred by the Manipuris.

A vast sea of green with the sprinklers providing the much needed elixir to the Maroi Nakuppis at Kangla Sangomshang

Till the recent past, the plant variety used to be grown as either kitchen garden item or on a slightly larger scale in case one's backyard is spacious enough.

Among many Kangla Sangomshang farmers who had transformed the paddy-fields, that used to lie barren after harvest, into large scale 'maroi nakuppi' farming is one Ngangbam Lelen Meitei, a First Class First Gold Medallist in History from Manipur University.

Now in his 40s, Lelen is said to have persevered with his objective not to clamour for Government jobs inspite of his enviable academic record and even after suggestion by his former MU teachers to apply for a teaching job in the same varsity he had studied.

However, for a brief period he was the head of history department for a brief period in Ng Mani College, which is close to his home following persistent approach by the college authorities.

After parting ways with the said college, Lelen put into practice formal education on Economic History he had acquired under Prof N Lokendra of MU when in 1997 he prepared a small patch of land within his homestead land and began nurturing 'maroi nakuppi'.

Thanking the professor for whatever he has achieved so far, Lelen said from his first venture of maroi plantation in the paddy-field during the off-season in less than quarter of an acre of land the present day cultivation has expanded to a little over three acres, and more importantly income generation of satisfactory level.

He also informed that his own paddy-field is a little over an acre but had been planting 'maroi nakuppi' at the mentioned present size on lease basis.

Along with his younger brother namely Wangba, who is also a Masters' degree holder, Lelen continues to sustain the farm endeavour in addition to paying monthly wage of Rs 3000-4000 to eight other locals to assist in the farming activities.

owing to compulsion for meeting increasing demand, Lelen has begun to use water sprinklers with the nearby Iril river as the water source as well as engage more other locals for regular supply of organic manures such as poultry wastes, cow-dung etc.

Regarding quantum of produce, he said at an average 250 to 400 bundles of 'maroi nakuppi' are plucked everyday with each bundle sold at the wholesale rate of Rs 25 .

Calling upon the educated unemployed not to be disheartened when the limited Government job slips away from their grasp, Lelen also expressed strong desire that age-old tradition/practice of abandoning fertile land after the paddy harvest is over should be discarded as time has come for increasing food supply to meet growing population.