Aaranyak, a leading environmental NGO, organised a one-day training programme on homestead gardens and sapling distribution at Jaikhlong Community Nursery in Badlapara, Udalguri district, Assam. The event, held on 22nd September, was part of a larger initiative supported by the UNDP-GEF Small Grant Programme and the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India, and implemented by TERI.
The programme saw participation from 26 individuals representing the villages of Badlapara, Samrang, and Sonajuli. The focus of the training was to introduce improved tools and techniques for homestead gardening, while also offering practical exposure to vermicomposting, soil-less germination, and plant propagation methods. These techniques aim to enhance the productivity of homestead gardens in the region, especially in areas facing water scarcity and dry soil conditions due to human-wildlife conflicts.
During the event, a total of 413 saplings were distributed to the participants from Jaikhlong Community Nursery. The saplings included seven species: Passion Fruit (Passiflora edulis), Elephant Apple (Dillenia indica), Black Pepper (Piper nigrum), Gamari (Gmelina arborea), Assam Lemon (Citrus limon), Nahar (Mesua ferrea), and Arjun (Terminalia arjuna). These saplings were selected to support sustainable homestead gardening practices and boost local biodiversity.
Jayanta Kr. Pathak, Senior Manager of Aaranyak’s Environment Education and Capacity Building Division, highlighted the significance of the collaboration between UNDP, MoEFCC, and TERI in promoting biodiversity conservation and livelihood generation. He discussed the establishment of vermicomposting units and their potential to enhance the productivity of homestead gardens. Pathak also encouraged the participants to engage in bartering between homestead owners and the nursery, such as exchanging cow manure for saplings, fostering a self-sustaining ecosystem.
Premila Narzary, executive member of Jaikhlong Nursery, along with Aaranyak’s Haben Mochahari, conducted a demonstration on scientific seedbed preparation for soil-less germination using vermicomposting sand and cocopeat. This hands-on session was well-received by the participants, who appreciated the practical insights provided.
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At the end of the programme, Pathak met with members of Jaikhlong Community Nursery to provide an overview of the project’s financial expenditures and address their concerns. Aaranyak officials, including Tikendrajit Gogoi, Rabiya Daimari, and Haben Mochahari, also contributed to the successful execution of the event.
This initiative is part of Aaranyak’s broader mission to support biodiversity conservation and improve livelihoods in the region, particularly in areas facing environmental challenges such as water scarcity and human-wildlife conflicts.
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