A chayote plant growing along the roadside in Kohima. (Morung Photo)
Crop production in State affected by low rainfall
Our Correspondent
Kohima | July 8
Chayote growers in the State capital Kohima and some parts of Phek district have been left disappointed after experiencing low yield yet again this year. A similar situation reportedly occurred in 2019, with growers suffering repercussions of low harvest.
Chayote (Sechium edule), commonly called ‘squash’ or as ‘eskos’ in Nagaland, is one of the most abundantly found fruits in Nagaland and mostly grown in the kitchen garden.
Not surprisingly, five pieces of chayote were being sold at an exorbitant rate of Rs 200 till the last week in a certain market area in Kohima.
A vendor informed that the high cost resulted owing to scarcity of chayote in Kohima. A staple of local cuisine, apart from the fruit, the leaves of the chayote plant are also used in the preparation of various dishes.
Supong, a resident of Midland told The Morung Express that he started getting sufficient yield by the month of May in the previous years. However, he failed to get good yield of chayote in his kitchen garden even by the first week of July.
Another person informed that the chayote plant growth seems to be normal, but he is yet to see it bear even a single fruit in his kitchen garden till date.
Low yield has also been reported from Phek district.
It may be recalled that the Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC) Nagaland recently informed that various horticultural crops have been affected across the state due to drought-like conditions and other vagaries of nature.
The affected horticultural crops included cucumber, vegetables, large cardamom, French bean, potato, tomato, chilli, passion fruit, cabbage, citrus, etc.
