When Mhasikhono Lcho, an engineering student, returned home to prepare for competitive exams, life slowed down in ways she did not expect.
“That pause gave me the space to reconnect with something I had always loved—growing healthy, nutritious food,” says Lcho who started “Berries on Terrace”- a small venture of cultivating strawberries from her terrace.
A native of Viswema village, Mhasikhono has been interested in the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables since childhood and has always had a natural love for greens. Back when she was in Class 9, she remembers growing strawberries in containers and experiencing the joy of harvesting fresh, chemical-free fruit.
Although she had to pause while she pursued further studies, that passion was reignited when an aunt gifted her a few strawberry saplings.
As she grew and shared the strawberries with family and friends, everyone noticed how different they tasted compared to market-bought strawberries.
Over time, the positive experience encouraged her to experiment further with heirloom tomatoes and exotic vegetables, slowly turning a personal passion into Berries on Terrace- a business page on Instagram where she sells her produce, seeds and value added products. It is also platform where she give updates on the garden journey and also growing tips and information on the produce.
“What began as a personal experiment slowly evolved into a deeper mission,” says Lcho whose passion is to help people reconnect with real, healthy food and understand how it’s truly meant to taste.
Growing strawberries in Nagaland, for Lcho, has been both a learning experience and a deeply rewarding journey. She views that the climate in Kohima especially the cool temperatures and pleasant winters is naturally suitable for strawberries, but growing them on a small terrace came with its own challenges.
“I had to learn through trial and error—understanding soil mixes, managing moisture during heavy rains, infrastructure, and adapting to seasonal changes. Growing strawberries in Nagaland taught me patience, consistency, and the value of working in harmony with nature rather than against it,” shares Lcho.
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Growing strawberries in Nagaland can be profitable, according to Lcho, and there is a market for high-quality berries and related products especially if producers focus on quality, organic farming, and smart marketing. “This also opens employment opportunities in farming, processing, selling, and related services. However, success depends on good agronomy, infrastructure, and access to markets,” she further highlights.
There are also hidden costs and challenge in running a strawberry rooftop garden such as investment in containers, quality soil mixes, healthy plants, infrastructure for the containers in the initial set up.
“Beyond that the biggest challenge is daily maintenance, strawberries need consistent care, pruning, close monitoring for pests and diseases,” shares Lcho. Further, there are ongoing costs for organic inputs, plant replacements, and most importantly, time. Losses due to weather or plant stress are also part of the journey, even though people only see the final harvest, she further stresses.
With all that said, my favorite part will be seeing the reviews of her clients when they receive/taste the strawberries and wanting for more. This makes all the hard work behind the scenes worthwhile.
For anyone starting out, Lcho advises to begin small and be patient. While rewarding, strawberries requires consistent care. Therefore, Lcho highlights the essential need to first understand one’s local climate, sunlight, and water availability.
“Invest in healthy planting material and good soil these two factors make the biggest difference. Observe your plants daily and learn from them rather than rushing for results. Expect some failures in the beginning; they’re part of the learning process. Most importantly, grow with intention whether it’s for health, learning, or income and let the journey guide you step by step,” shares Lcho.
