A one-day training programme on cultivation practices of citronella and lemongrass was held at Kangstung village under Tuli sub-division on February 21, aimed at promoting climate-resilient aromatic crops and strengthening rural livelihoods. The training was conducted under the TRIBES initiative, supported by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and implemented by Community Educational Centre Society (CECS).

The programme took place at the Kangstung Students’ Library Hall and brought together farmers from Kangstung, Kangtsungyimsen and Aopenzu villages. A total of 72 farmers participated in the training.

Delivering the introductory address, Subonenba Longkumer, Director of CECS, outlined the objectives of the TRIBES project and highlighted the relevance of citronella and lemongrass as climate-resilient crops with livelihood potential. He encouraged farmers to adopt improved cultivation practices and assured continued technical and institutional support under the project.

The resource person for the training was Gobin Chauhan, a progressive farmer from Bokajan, Assam, with over three decades of experience in citronella cultivation. Drawing from his field experience, Chauhan shared practical inputs on land preparation, selection of planting materials, spacing, nutrient management, crop maintenance, harvesting methods and oil extraction processes. He also spoke on maintaining crop quality, understanding market demand and sustaining productivity over time.

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As part of the programme, participants undertook a field visit to a lemongrass plot in Kangstung village. The visit provided an opportunity for farmers to observe crop growth, discuss plant health, spacing and field maintenance, and seek clarifications directly from the resource person through on-site interaction.

The training concluded with a note of appreciation to the resource person and acknowledgement of the active participation of the farmers.