Promotion of activities done though District / State

1) Farmers training within in the state for Banana farmers at Mausen :

Apart from others, Horticulture Department organized Farmers Training for Banana farmers at Mausen of Lunglei District on 14.04.2024. Mausen village comprises of 72 households, of which 34 are Banana farmers depending on Banana as their means of livelihood. As such, the State Horticulture Department gives thrust to developing ways and means of their banana production and productivity.

Farmers are provided training on various topics – Pest & Disease management, Integrated Nutrient management, soil management, water use efficiency, green manuring [by utilizing weeds and banana residues], importance of terrace / half moon terrace, post harvest technology etc.

2) Construction and Installation of Banana Ripening Chamber at Mausen :

In view of achieving better quality and uniform product of banana to fetch better prices the State Horticulture Department established Ripening Chamber [10 MT Cap.] at Mausen Village which was inaugurated on 2^nd November, 2023 by Dr. Elizabeth Saipari, Director of Horticulture Department, Govt. of Mizoram. This brought about tremendous change in value addition to the banana produce as it doubles the price of banana from @ Rs. 2 per one piece of green banana to @ Rs. 4 per one piece of ripe banana at the village. Since then, Mausen villagers sold 20 qtl. ripe banana per week.

The Department arranged training programme for management of Ripening Chamber at Sesawng, Aizawl District which was also attended by one Sr. Horticulture Demonstrator from Horticulture Department and 4 User-Farmers from Mausen on 11.10. 2023.

3) Farmers Meet at Mausen :

Horticulture Department, Lunglei District organised farmers meet at Mausen on dt 8.2.2024 in the auspicious presence of Prof. Lalnilawma, Hon’ble Horticulture Minister, Govt. of Mizoram as a chief Guest and Pu V. Malsawmtluanga, MLA, Lunglei North Assembly Constituency & Vice Chairman, Lunglei High Powered Committee as a Guest of Honour. In this farmers’ meet an open and direct interactive session was held in which Banana farmers put up their needs for improvement of post harvest management such as requirement of packing house, requirement of improvement of approach road from ATL highway to Banana Ripening Chamber (about 30m length) and extension of Market Shed at Mausen.

4) Relief to Victim of Cyclone Remal during May, 2024 :

The incidence of Cyclone Remal in the mid of May, 2024 caused tremendous damages to Banana plantains, vegetable cluster, fruiting Oranges and papaya in the District. The Horticulture Department conducted spot verification and submitted the verification Report to competent Authority. As per the report compiled by the Department, 25.2 Ha. of Banana cultivated area was ruined by the storm. Accordingly, all the reported farmers including ODOP farmers were provided Relief Funds from District Disaster Management Authority of Lunglei District.

5) Development Action Plan :

Horticulture Department as a Nodal Department proposed the following projects under MIDH 2025 – 2026

Establishment of Banana Ripening Chamber at the following clusters –

i) Rangte
ii) Hauruang

Solar Crop Dryer (with 24 Hrs Back up) of 100 Kgs capacity for ODOP Entrepreneurs
Farm Gate Pack House @ 1) Rangte (ODOP village) 2) Mausen (ODOP village)
Establishment of Primary / Minimal Processing unit at Mausen (ODOP village)
Horticulture Department and Commerce & Industries Department jointly advised existing ODOP Entrepreneurs to avail subsidy / Loan under PMEGP Scheme in order to enhance quality, quantity and standard of their products
Proposal for construction of Terrace and Half Moon Terrace in convergence with Rural Development Department under Watershed Development Component – Pradhan Mantry Krishi Sinchayee Yajona 2.0 (WDC – PMKSY 2.0) @ the following ODOP villages

Sertlangpui
Mausen
Serte
Mualthuam North
South Lungdai
Haulawng

Submitted project proposal Concept Paper on Departmental challenge under Chief Ministers Banakaih innovation challenge with project title “Banana Fiber Extraction”

6) Banana plantation under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana – Watershed Development component 2.0, Lunglei District

Banana cultivation is a profitable business in Mizoram and is one of the state’s most important fruit crops. Due to its low price, high nutritive value and site suitability, banana crop remains a popular choice for horticultural farmers in the district.

A number of farmers in the project area villages are engaging themselves in banana plantation since time immemorial. The farmers are well aware and adapted with the packages of practices for Banana cultivation through the efforts, intervention and assistance from other line-departments. Keeping this in consideration, PMKSY-WDC 2.0, Lunglei district have taken initiatives in assisting Banana cultivators especially in Serte and Mausen villages. The details of action taken are shown below –

Serte Village:

With the project aiming to increase farmers income, Banana suckers are distributed among the beneficiaries during FY 2022. A total of 4650 suckers are distributed.
Construction of rain water storage structures with a capacity of 5625 litters to provide protective irrigation.

Pu Lalhmangaiha of Serte village is a noteworthy successful cultivator of Banana. Hard working by nature, he spends most of his time at his farm and is one of the beneficiaries under PMKSY-WDC 2.0, Lunglei District. Through this intervention, he had earned about Rs 30,000/- anually.

Pic: Construction of Rain water harvesting tank, Serte village

Mausen Village:

Soil and Moisture conservation activities being the main objectives of PMKSY-WDC 2.0, Bench terracing is constructed for Banana cultivators to cut off steep slopes and water run-off.
For provision of irrigation, a total of 7 rain water harvesting storage structure with a capacity of 5625 litters each were constructed for the Banana cultivators.

Pic: Bench terracing for Banana cultivation, Mausen village

Pic: Construction of Rain water harvesting tank, Mausen village