For over a decade, the FARM Northeast program by Caritas India has been working at the grassroots to empower farming communities in the hilly regions of Northeast India. Understanding the region’s unique cultural and ecological fabric, the program has consistently prioritized capacity building, promoting indigenous agricultural practices, and integrating modern farming techniques tailored to local needs.

The story of Ms. Rita Pale, a 27-year-old lead farmer from Lumstong village in West Jaintia Hills, is a living example of this approach in action. As the president of the Kamailang Self-Help Group (SHG), Rita has emerged as a community resource person by applying the skills and knowledge gained through multiple training sessions under FARM Northeast IV, implemented by the Jaintia Hills Development Society (JHDS).

Coming from a strong agricultural background, Rita was no stranger to farming. But the technical training she received from FARM Northeast in vegetable cultivation, ginger farming, organic inputs, and vermicomposting marked a turning point. She learned to grow various crops—cabbage, cauliflower, maize, beans, ginger, chili, pumpkin, capsicum, cucumber, and mushrooms across seasons, enhancing her food security and market potential.

In addition, she participated in specialized workshops on millet processing and indigenous food preparation, equipping her to generate additional income through the sale of cookies, rice cakes, and local snacks. In 2024, she further deepened her ginger cultivation and composting skills, focusing on sustainable practices that support both productivity and the environment.

Challenges remain. Like many smallholder farmers, Rita faces issues like crop damage from pests and limited access to reliable markets. However, through her training, she adopted natural pest control measures and continued to improve soil health through composting and seed preservation. FARM Northeast also supported her with indigenous seed varieties, helping her reduce input costs and maintain local biodiversity.

Rita’s consistent efforts have yielded strong economic returns. In the previous year alone, she harvested 1,200 kg of ginger, earning ₹1,56,000. Her vegetable sales made an additional ₹20,000–₹25,000, along with smaller earnings from selling seeds and traditional food products, bringing her annual income to around ₹1.87 lakh.

Her story reflects the long-term vision of FARM Northeast: building farmer resilience through knowledge, skill-building, and respect for traditional wisdom. Rita now serves as a change agent, sharing seeds and supporting other farmers in adopting organic methods in her village.

Through programs like FARM Northeast, Caritas India continues to foster self-reliant, skilled, and confident smallholder farmers who are transforming their lives and communities by combining the old with the new.