Wokha District in Nagaland, home of the Lotha Nagas, is blessed with mass production of organic fruits and vegetables and has earned the tag ‘Land of Plenty’. The farmers of Wokha district mainly depend on agriculture for livelihood and to this day, mother earth continues to provide for them.
With its abundance of production in local organic fruits and veggies, the farmers of every village under Wokha District organise sales days every Tuesday and Friday to meet the high demands of the local customers as well as customers from other districts of Nagaland travelling through Wokha.
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Talking with Nagaland Tribune, some of the vendors asserts that all of them come from different villages to Police Point, Main Town, Wokha to sell their products every Tuesday and Friday. Some vendors say that as sole earners in their families, the sale days are a good opportunity for them to meet some requirements. It is also learned that many of the children’s education depend upon the meagre earnings made in the sale events.
Transportation is the biggest challenge they are facing, some of the vendors added. They have to get up early to get a seat on the village taxis which transport them from village to town early morning. They have to reach the town early and sell the products as soon as possible as they have to return to their villages the same day.
Along with the transportation problem, there is also a problem of improper marketing shed. The local vendors coming from the villages have to stand by the roadside and pavements in the sun and rain till the produce are sold off.
The organic produce that can be found during this season include taro, pumpkin, squash, eggplant, corn, cherry tomato, bottle gourd, bitter gourd, fresh leaves (wild and reared), melon, green chilli, banana, cucumber, pineapple, bamboo shoot, ginger, passion fruit, asparagus, beans, gooseberry, Chinese beans, mushroom, lichi, orange, edible insects, ground nut, local garlic, spring onion, local cabbage, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, lemon molasses (Gur), bamboo shoot vinegar, fermented bamboo shoot, etc.
Shoppers will also find livestock such as local chicken, rabbit, guinea pigs, local bred fish, etc and handicrafts like carrying cane basket, bamboo basket, plastic basket, hoe, spade, machete, knifes, wooden stand plates, ladle, husker and many more.
The market maybe small but since the produce are organic, the general populace is benefitting in terms of health and well-being. The market is also a good avenue for the vendors who await patiently for better transport and marketing facilities.
