Meghalaya, India – In the quiet, green expanses of Kynrud Village in Mairang Block, Eastern West Khasi Hills, farmer Sentenary Diengdoh begins each day tending to her land, her crops, and the livelihood that sustains her family.
For as long as she can remember, farming has been her way of life. On her five acres of land, Sentenary cultivates a wide range of crops, including paddy, guava, citrus fruits, pineapple, banana, and a variety of vegetables. Among these, the fiery bird’s-eye chilli, widely demanded in the local markets, has become one of her reliable income earners. Alongside crop cultivation, she also raises pigs and backyard chickens.
Sentenary had benefitted from the support of NEICORD, receiving citrus and guava saplings, a water pump, and water storage facilities for irrigation. She also received vegetable seeds from the Agriculture Department. But it was the training she received on SALT (Sloping Agricultural Land Technology), terrace farming, and other sustainable farming systems that proved truly transformative for her. These techniques helped her protect her soil, improve yields, and manage her land more efficiently.
Sentenary’s journey as a farmer took a new shape with the formation of the Iaipyrshang Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) in 2021. When she became part of the FPO, new opportunities opened up. Sentenary and other members began receiving leadership and bookkeeping training, strengthening not only their farms but also their capacity to collectively manage a growing organisation.
One of the biggest hurdles farmers faced was transportation. Selling produce individually meant higher costs and limited bargaining power. But now, the FPO buys produce directly from its members, and then sells it collectively to buyers, saving farmers from transport burdens while ensuring better prices.
The Iaipyrshang FPO received funding support from APFP–FO4A, which was used to build a Common Resource Centre, now a vital storage and collection point for farmers’ products.
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).
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