In the hills of Thad Village in Umsning Block, Ri-Bhoi district, Meghalaya, India, the fields have always been part of Deigracia Ryngtong’s life. As a farmer, she has long tended to ginger, pineapple, and chillies. These crops have supported her family for years. But for Deigracia, farming was more than a livelihood; it became the pathway to leadership, collective growth, and a stronger future for her community.
Her journey began with the local farmer club, where she and other members received support from the North East India Committee on Relief and Development (NEICORD). They were provided with ginger saplings, pineapple suckers, and Khasi mandarin seedlings, which gave them a boost in improving their farms. NEICORD also trained them in organic farming systems, multi-cropping, and kitchen gardening, skills that helped Deigracia enhance both productivity and sustainability on her land.
As the club grew stronger, so did the farmers’ vision for unity. With NEICORD’s guidance, they came together to form the Thad Multipurpose Cooperative Society in 2019 with 70 members. After years of hard work and preparation, the cooperative was officially registered in 2024.
With funding support from the APFP-FO4A program, the cooperative was able to build its own Common Resource Center, a space that now houses a solar dryer, food processing machine, weighing machine, and serves as a hub for collective marketing. The capital support enabled them to purchase produce directly from their members and sell it collectively, helping farmers secure better prices and stable markets.
APFP-FO4A also provided valuable training on leadership and bookkeeping, strengthening the cooperative’s management and empowering members like Deigracia to take on greater roles within the organization.
The Asia-Pacific Farmers’ Program (APFP)–Farmers Organizations for Asia (FO4A) is implemented by the Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA) and La Via Campesina (LVC), with funding from the European Union (EU) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The program aims to strengthen the capacities of farmers’ organizations to provide economic services, advocate for enabling policies, and promote sustainable livelihoods for small-scale family farmers across Asia. APFP-FO4A is implemented in India by the Institute for Motivating Self Employment (IMSE), the North East India Committee on Relief and Development (NEICORD), and the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA).
Today, the cooperative proudly produces an array of value-added products, including pickles, pineapple juice, pineapple jam, powdered ginger, and turmeric. These products are sold in the Umsning market and other nearby markets, helping the cooperative build its reputation for quality local goods.
For Deigracia, the benefits of joining the cooperative extend far beyond the farm. Through the cooperative, farmers are now able to partner with different organizations and government agencies, gaining access to training on value addition and market linkages. They have learned how to identify potential buyers, explore markets outside the state, and improve the overall value chain of their products.
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