Seyielhuvi Zhunyu
New Socunoma Village, Dimapur
Paddy farming is here again in New Socunoma Village where the 'Nagaland Special Rice variety' is grown. The locals simply call it 'Nagaland Special.' A return to the roots movement is gaining momentum as the world exits this time of the pandemic crisis. Even the paddy fields that were once deserted are now springing back to life as home folks 'near and dear ones' with rejuvenated passion re-engage themselves in the age-old paddy farming practice inherited from their predecessors. Hence, the resurgence of paddy farming in New Socunoma Village is a reality and a most laudable one. Perhaps, it'd be proper to take a quick look at the history of the people who came and resettled in the present village throughout 1960.
The early settlers most of whom were Naga national freedom fighters who had most gallantly served the Naga Cause in varying capacities during the height of the Naga national movement. Battle worn and illustrious, they immediately took up paddy farming as their main occupation. Their sheer hard work produced a self-sustainable lifestyle in the decades that followed.
New Socunoma Village falls under the subdivision of Medziphema, 5 Ghaspani II constituency, in Dimapur District. The area itself stretches toward the foothills of Peren district adjoining the valley famously known as the 'Rice Bowl of Nagaland'. In the glorious past, the village was acclaimed as the 'Capital of the Nagaland Special Rice variety' for the very reason that the aroma and shelf quality of the variety of rice grown in New Socunoma Village stood out distinctively superior to those grown in the immediate surrounding villages. This was responsible for mainly two factors besides suitable climate and fertile soil :
(1)The great Chathe River served as the main water source providing ample freshwa fresh water flowing through well-maintained canals and streams into the paddy fields.
(2) Implementation of meticulous traditional farming methods by hardworking farmers who were strict practitioners of paddy cultivation themselves and were exceptionally knowledgeable of the task inside out by decades of experience.
The golden era of paddy cultivation in New Socunoma village as seen by many continued to flourish throughout the eighties and to the early nineties. However, over the last two decades, we've seen a dramatic slowdown of paddy farming in the area. The decline was in large part caused by a lack of interest in the agrarian economy among the younger generations as most ventured outside for greener pastures. Paddy farming is simply not profitable anymore. White-collar jobs and other less physically demanding trades are more preferable. On top of that, difficulty in obtaining migrant laborers has further discouraged the villagers to continue paddy farming.
In recent years, there have been some elements that have hindered paddy cultivation in the area much to the villager's dismay.
(1) Excessive extraction of boulders and sand from the river has lowered the river bed which has led to bank erosion and destruction of the irrigation canal mouths.
(2)The construction of Dimapur-Kohima railway line cutting across the paddy fields in the area has caused further undue damage to the irrigation canals and water drain basins essential to paddy farming.
(3)As if it was not enough, in 2019, a mysterious cattle epidemic broke out in New Socunoma village and its surrounding villages which wiped out 90 % of the Buffalo population.
This was a devastating blow on the villagers who solely depended on draft animals for paddy farming which involves heavy physical labor. As a consolation remedy, the government provided a power tiller to the village. Formalities are still being carried out for financial help to compensate for the losses, hence the pandemic crisis. Consequently, these cited elements in one way or another have discouraged the villagers and compelled many to abandon farming completely. Nevertheless, the need to reach agricultural self-sufficiency in Nagaland continues to grow.
Nagaland has been home to small scale traditional farmers. However, with rapid modernization and consumer-driven mindset, we are becoming extremely dependent on external sources for basic food commodities controlled by corporate power in agriculture. It is controlling our food system from farming to the table, manipulating our markets, pushing our local farmers out of business, and leaving us all the more vulnerable to food price shocks. Further, this excessive food dependency on outsiders coupled with rising global food prices presents an imminent threat to the extinction of self-sustainable agricultural practices in the Naga society and, hence, food insecurity.
Easier said than done. There's no easy way or solution to reach food self-sufficiency via self-sustainable farming. Besides the involvement of long and arduous backbreaking physical labor, the plight of the small scale farmers across the nation has not improved over the years. As study confirmed, 70 % of its rural household still primarily depend on agriculture as their livelihood. And 80% of Indian farmers are small scale marginal farmers who own up to 5 acres of land or less. Another survey led by NABARD nailed that 94% of government subsidies meant for small and marginal farmers are being used by big and medium farmers. The government should work to relieve the plight of the smallholder farmers by providing critical investment in credit/capital and sales channels, etc. so they can reach their full potential.
Certainly, the younger generations equipped with better education and resources today are our best chance and hope to see an agricultural revival in the State. Unless they take on the responsibility to lead from the frontline along with the experts and reengage in the self-sustainable agricultural practices once dominant in our society, there's no other practical way to ensure food security and to become a more economically successful self-sustainable society in the long run.
To my fellow home folks; the sons and daughters of paddy planters, I couldn't help but admire your timely efforts and zeal to revive paddy farming. It is in keeping with the tradition and the legacy of our fathers. Sadly, not many of them made it big or were able to effort an affluent lifestyle as small paddy planters. Nonetheless, they would be best remembered as a hardworking self-sufficient generation who enjoyed the fruit of their labor. Besides other critical inputs, the amount of hard work and dedication we put forth will be key to taking this legacy ahead to higher levels of success and prosperity.
