Members of Snohktilang Self Help Group (SHG) of Nohron community obtained a good quality Berkeley compost this November. Before this, members of the SHG held a Berkeley compost training in October and taught community members how to prepare this compost.
Community members were able to use it for cultivating several crops like potatoes, beans, mustard, and other vegetable crops. In the first week of October, the members of the SHG along with NESFAS staff Wayoolang Talang (Research Assistant), Lamphrang Shabong (Field Coordinator), Bankerda Chyne (Field Coordinator), Merrysha Nongrum (Senior Associate), and community facilitator (CF) Jimson Lyting.
Organic agriculture is a system of crop production that focuses on sustaining the soil’s health, ecosystems, and the general public as a whole. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of chemical inputs with adverse effects for the production. Nohron is one of the few communities where community members do not use chemicals in their farming activities, making them relatively an ‘organic ‘farming system.
Berkeley composting is a fast, simple and efficient method of compost preparation, which utilizes naturally available inputs. Therefore, this makes it the preferred method to be selected for the training programme to be given to different communities, including Nohron community.
A follow-up study will be done on the aspects of quality and quantity of production of the crops as well as its impact on the nature of the soil.
