Farmer in Karimganj growing Strawberry as cash crop; Landmark moment for agriculture in Barak Valley

Many of us like the heart shaped strawberry fruit, filled with minerals, vitamins and good taste. But we do tend to assume it can only grow on some cold hills of Kashmir or Uttarakhand or in the hill stations Mahabaleshwar. Shattering that myth, Ismail Hussain, a farmer from Nilambazar, is cultivating the fruit at his farm in Karimganj district.

Hussain has now become talk of the town for successfully cultivating strawberry and water melon as cash crops (agriculture for profit in off season) in the off season. Might be debatable, but conventional wisdom is that he is the first peasant in Barak Valley to cultivate the berries.

Although the heart shaped fruit is mainly grown in mild temperate regions, it is being cultivated commercially in various countries in the South, East and Southeast Asia due to the emergence of cultivable varieties in the Tropics. At present, due to the increasing demand for strawberries in the market, it is being cultivated commercially in different states of India, including northeast.

Ismail, a resident of Abdullapur Village under Nilambazar circle of Karimganj district, belongs to a farming family where his forefathers grew paddy and other vegetables through traditional agriculture methods. Ismail says he has mastered the cultivation technique by watching Youtube videos.

Sharing the experience, Ismail said it was challenging as he never tried or seen anyone before cultivating Strawberries in the locality and any mistake could have cost him the entire investment. “Initially I had fear, but I decided to give it a try the result of which is in front” Ismail said expressing delight.

Neatly laid-out strawberry baskets coming out every morning from the farm have increased his income.

The crop required a few other measures too. He erected a boundary all around his farm to prevent rodents and rabbits from destroying the crop. Plastic sheets were spread underneath the plants to prevent fruits from touching the ground.

“Many assume that this fruit can be cultivated only in hilly zones, but I can say that the fruit can be grown in hot places too and I am an example of it. Most people give up after the initial setbacks. That is where you should not give up” added Ismail.

He has also successfully grown watermelons and capsicum on his land.