Spectacular hydrangea plants blossoming at Aküle Potato Farm in Kigwema village. (Photo Courtesy: Merama Youth Society)
Aküle Potato Farm transforms into botanical spectacle with hydrangeas and rhododendrons
Morung Express News
Kohima | May 29
Aküle Potato Farm, located below the foothills of Mt Vipikhowo on the higher slopes of Japfü mountain range in Kigwema village was once a modest agricultural venture for the community with villagers cultivating organic potatoes or cabbages.
Today, it has blossomed into an unexpected tourist attraction with the spectacular increase of towering hydrangea plants and new rhododendrons planted along its landscape.
Like locals give names to farming areas in the villages, irrespective of its size, Aküle, where the elders have practiced jhum cultivation has been the name called by the elders for this potato farm, explained Thepfükelie Phira, a youth president of the khel who now takes care of the community led eco tourist spot.
Managed by Merama Youth Society, a khel in Kigwema village, potatoes or other organic produces in this farm are cultivated by different individuals belonging to the Merama khel.
Hydrangeas - a botanical spectacle
Phira shared in excitement that the hydrangeas are just starting to bloom for the season and goes on till July. The huge grove of hydrangeas is becoming a botanical spectacle.
Phira recalls that the previous year saw visitors flocking to see the hydrangeas in the potato farms where the entry is made through the Zakhama Military station.
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According to name entries done in the Zakhama Military station entry gate, some days during the peak season, the farm had more than 100 visitors, both local and domestic tourists a day.
The present groves of hydrangea flowers astonishingly were not recently planted but are the result of the elders who planted it beside their huts or rocky areas where it was not suitable for cultivation.
Here, the plants, both edible or flowers seem to be healthy. The youth president says nutrient rich soil composition, topography and climate conditions are the secret to the rich produces.
Rhododendron - a community led conservation
As the youth president cites, the expansion of the plant are a result of the community who began to come and plant bit by bit.
He added that the “planting of the rhododendron trees several years back by community groups have initiated a chain reaction with different groups taking up different initiatives to liven up the potato farm such as installation of dustbins, plantation drives of hydrangeas and alder trees which have developed the area into a tidy and rich biodiversity spot.”
As for the rhododendrons, they have been strategically planted along the footpath leading up to the potato farm, creating a trial for the farm goers.
Phira says that they hope to witness the rhododendrons blooming in a few years time. “As rhododendrons are native and rare species to the area, it is our objective to conserve this species in its natural habitat and nurture for upcoming generations,” he further adds.
New Initiatives
With the onset of the blooming season, the youth body has set new initiatives ahead.
“Merama Youth Society Kigwema have initiated and taken up a number of works with assistance from community members to provide basic amenities to provide convenience to the cultivators as well as the visitors,” Phira adds.
Some initiatives he mentioned were availability of toilets, rest houses and clean water tanks and added that fast food and beverage stalls will also be available at the Farm during the blooming season. Apart from this, the MYS said apart from free entry, it is asking visitors to pay Rs 20 as sanitation fee. The authorities here prohibit hunting, scavenging, uprooting, cutting and destruction of edible plants, flowers, trees and any flora.
As visitors flock to witness this botanical spectacle, the story behind this unlikely transformation unveils a tale of innovation, perseverance, and the awe-inspiring power of nature’s beauty.
