Farmers tilling their cucumber farm at Aliba village under Mokokchung district.
K Shitsucha
Mokokchung | August 2
Aliba village, situated within the Ongpangkong circle of Mokokchung district, stands as a trailblazer in off-season cucumber cultivation over the past decade. The late Burremba Pongen introduced this innovative practice in 1986, and today, it serves as the primary income source for most villagers. Notably, Aliba’s success story extends beyond its borders, benefiting neighbouring villages like Chungtia and Kinunger.
Despite its achievements, Aliba off-season cucumber farmers are faced with mounting challenges due to rising market prices and change in climate. Access to essential facilitiessuch as cold storage, greenhouses, fertilizers, and pesticidesremains a struggle for the farmers. Presently, three women from Aliba—Narosenla, Temsurenla, and Imtilemla—have taken it upon themselves to preserve Burremba’s legacy through their personal finances.
Off-season cucumber cultivation kicks off in December, utilizing fields left fallow after the main harvest season (June to November). Cucumber seeds are sown in late January, with harvesting occurring around the second week of April. Aliba cultivates four local cucumber varieties- Rongma matsu, Tongten matsu, Entsu matsu, and Narep matsu.
Climate constraints
Aliba receives an average annual rainfall of 2000 to 2500mm. Of late, the village has been experiencing very long dry spells leading to drying up of irrigation channels. As a consequence, production has been drastically reduced. Rainfall during winter months remained sparse, while unprecedented downpours during the April-to-June harvest period have caused crop losses. In 2024, due to heavy downpour, most of the crops perished, Aliba cucumber farmers reported.
Climatic stress—heat and moisture—has rendered crops vulnerable to pests and diseases. Farmers have been using organic pesticides like neem oil to combat this.
Narosenla, with over 15 years of experience in off-season cucumber cultivation, recalled that the Krishi Vigyan Kendra used to provide organic pesticides, but this support has ceased. The annual Cucumber Festival organizing committee distributes vermicompost and basic farming tools to the farmers once a year, she said.
Aliba’s cucumber farm is located at the base of the village which is humid, and temperature soar to 25-28° C. “Every year it keeps getting hotter, due to which most of the cucumbers and other crops die due to the extreme heat. In the past, the harvest spanned 3-4 months, but this year, the harvesting time was comparatively shorter which means less yield,” Narosenla underscored.
Due to lack of cold storage facilities, Aliba farmers sell cucumbers mostly on wholesale basis. Buyers primarily come from Mokokchung, occasionally from Kohima and Dimapur.
“Currently, we sell six cucumbers for Rs 100. Last year, we harvested 900 cucumbers only. This year, we were fortunate to have harvested 1000 cucumbers in our farm,” said Temsurenla, who has been engaged in the cultivation for over 5 years.
During dry months, irrigation channels often run dry. Fortunately, the three women farmers have a water pump installed in their field, drawing water from the river below. However, other villagers lack this luxury, making crop cultivation challenging.
Economic struggles
With no government aid, farmers face financial constraints. Imtilemla emphasized that without sufficient earnings, they can’t afford essentials like manure, fertilizers, and labour. Their annual income, around one lakh, fuels the next season’s purchases. Everything, from water pumps to pesticides, is self-funded.
“Everything from the water pumps to the pesticides and fertilizers, we have to purchase from our personal earnings, with no external assistance,” added Narosenla.
Tajensangla Jamir, a PhD scholar from Nagaland University, who is currently doing her research in Aliba village, noted that off-season cucumber cultivation is very labour-intensive and therefore faces many challenges.
“Over the years, the price of manure, machineries, and labour cost has gone up. Additionally, with inadequate facilities and technology, the practice of off-season cucumber cultivation in the village is slowly declining,” she highlighted.
Aliba cucumber
Distinct from Indian varieties, Aliba cucumbers boast high water content, measuring 20-30 cm in length and 15-20 cm in breadth. Their soft texture allows consumption without peeling, and their sweet, aromatic flavour sets them apart.
Aliba’s cucumber legacy has spreads beyond its borders. “Now we find the cucumber varieties of Aliba village in other districts because people have been enthusiastic about it and takes the seeds from Aliba village to theirs, passing on the legacy to other surrounding villages as well,” Tajensangla noted.
The writer is a Master of Journalism and Mass Communication student at Nagaland University, Lumami and is currently completing a month-long internship at The Morung Express.
