How squash cultivation is helping Tangkhuls fight against drugs

Khamasom Phungdhar village, situated amidst the green hills of Ukhrul, has the dual merits of rich soil and a temperate climate, making it apt for raising vegetables. Still, many villagers involved themselves in the drug business as they started cultivating poppy, which paid handsome returns. The financial gains of poppy cultivation came at deep social and environmental costs. Poppy sucked the local economy into global drug supply chains, leaving traditional crops like maize and potatoes to drought, thus threatening not only the livelihood of the villagers but the sustainability of their agricultural systems.

Poppy cultivation generated short-term profits but economic instability, with the exploitation of narcotic cartels and dependence on a dangerous trade. The economically needed practice depletes the fertility of the soil, causes widespread deforestation, and contaminates water resources through the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

Soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, and a drastic reduction in the productive potential of the land were the consequent environmental results. Equally grave was the socio-economic impact of poppy farming as it eroded communal bonds and contributed to drug addiction among local youth.

In this dark landscape, however, comes squash, an oasis of hope. Sustainably grown and economically viable, squash signaled a new beginning—the return of ‘respectable,’ environmentally responsive, and ‘capital’ farming.

The Legacy of Poppy Cultivation
The legacy of poppy cultivation at Khamasom Phungdhar is littered with environmental degradation, economic instability, and social fragmentation. Decades of continued monocropping depleted essential soil nutrients, making the land infertile and less capable of sustaining future crops.

Further, poppy farming consumed much water, including that of local resources, disrupting the hydrological equilibrium in the village.

In addition to the strain on natural resources, poppy flower cultivation posed a number of health risks to farmers. They heavily relied on chemical inputs: synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides that polluted the soil and water systems.

This not only meant environmental degradation but also affected the health of the villagers, who eventually suffered from respiratory ailments, skin disorders, and even cancer due to the noxious substances.

Socially, poppy cultivation brought forth new issues. The drug trade triggered a health crisis in the general public, where a significant number of youths and others became addicted.

Poppy culture also set off ethnic conflicts between the Kukis and Meiteis as these ethnicities attempted to consolidate their strength over poppy trading. Whenever militant groups entered into it, the condition of farmers did not improve, and tensions increased.

This has been the War on Drugs, and the development of squash as an illegal crop increased. The ever-rising threat of narcotics led to the “War on Drugs” initiative spearheaded by Chief Minister N. Biren Singh in Manipur.

Such programs hope to remove the farming of poppies and substitute sources of income for farmers with other means, such as special financial and logistical packages that can steer them into sustainable crops. The National Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act was also sharpened on a national level to suppress poppy cultivation and the illegal drug trade.

However, most farmers did not want to leave poppy farming alone since it was more rewarding. There was a feasible alternative: squash. More so, local community leaders, such as AIRDO, or the Athia Integrated Rural Development Organisation, were working at full capacity to promote this crop.

The community group, while promoting the long-run benefits of squash farming—such as economic stability and health outcomes, in addition to being an environmentally sustainable crop—led the shift from poppy farming to squash.

The Introduction of Squash Cultivation
Community leaders and organizations never gave up, and they geared up in ongoing campaigns to make squash a sustainable and reliable alternative. They drew attention to the many long-term benefits: economic stability, health outcomes, and an environmentally friendly approach.

The region hosted the 5th Edition of the Squash (Chayote) Festival organized by the Hunphun-Ukhrul SHG Federation on September 25–27, 2024, in Ukhrul, boasting 52 varieties of squash and farmers, agricultural experts, and other stakeholders congregating to celebrate the need for sustainable farming practices.

The workshops in advanced horticultural techniques, including drip irrigation and plastic mulching, encapsulated the regional attempts to modernize agriculture to maximize crop yields.

There was, however, a pride of place for innovativeness in agriculture, and women-led SHGs were poignantly highlighted as the nerve centers in an effort to move away from poppy cultivation, with MLA Ram Muivah serving reminders for squash as an alternative, emphasizing potential food security and self-efficacy in local economies. Originally hailing from Mexico, squash has found a second home in Manipur, he added.

Economic Benefits of Squash Cultivation
According to Awungshi Philip Soso, Chairman of AIRDO, squash cultivation has proved to be a source of high economic benefits derived by the Tangkhul tribes of Ukhrul. Under AIRDO’s initiative, 1,000 squash plants were planted last year in Khamasom Phungdhar. Unlike poppy, squash offers a stable legal income to farmers without engaging them in illegal trade and the volatility of prices.

Squash has been made into a profitable crop due to high demand in the local and regional markets, which has enabled farmers to better their livelihoods. Furthermore, since squash is used in soups (champhut), salads, singju, desserts, and even as the base for products such as juice and chips, new market opportunities have opened up for farmers to diversify their incomes.

Value-added produce, in this case, gives the producing farmers the chance to join agro-processing, thus boosting and complementing their income, in addition to contributing to higher local economic growth.

It is therefore an important step towards economic resilience in Khamasom Phungdhar, as it transforms subsistence farming into market-oriented farming.

Environmental Benefits of Squash Farming
Aside from the economic gains that it offers, growing squash has much deeper environmental benefits. In contrast to poppy, which depletes the soil and is highly water-consuming, squash is a water-sparing crop with deep roots that rejuvenate the soil structure and improve water retention.

Khamasom Phungdhar’s farmers employ composting and natural pest control methods, similar to organic farming, which helps protect the environment while also increasing the fertility of the soil.

According to Augustine A.S., a local resident of Khamasom, squash farming has selected the best strategy through crop rotation, cover cropping, and intercropping. Supporting water conservation techniques like drip irrigation and plastic mulching has been accompanied by the possibility of developing squash with the least negative environmental impact.

Health benefits associated with squash cultivation transcend the boundaries of the agricultural field alone and lead to the comprehensive health of the ecosystem in the region.

Empowerment Through Squash Production
The change from poppy to squash has revolutionized the erstwhile society of Khamasom Phungdhar. Women, who occupy a pivotal position in squash production and its vending, have been mainstreamed by SHGs and agricultural cooperatives.

These units not only provide training and skills to the farmers but also bring them into new markets, ensuring that their produce reaches consumers at affordable prices.

It may therefore seem that gender balance is the most essential factor in rural development. Since enabled women assume leadership of their farm enterprises, family income, education, and health have improved.

On top of that, switching from poppy to squash has reduced drug addiction, especially among the youth, and hence a healthy and harmonious community, added Awungshi Philip Soso.

AIRDO in the War Against Drugs and Economic Transformation
The Athia Integrated Rural Development Organization (AIRDO) has been one of the leading influencing forces in bringing poppy cultivation to an end in Khamasom Phungdhar by promoting sustainable agriculture.

One of the organisation’s non-governmental agencies geared towards rural development has led the crusade against drug addiction through alternative livelihoods, aimed at securing economic stability as well as a stable social status.

The extensive training programs and awareness campaigns supported by AIRDO educated the farmers about how to grow squash instead of narcotics, pulling them out of the narcotics trade.

Organisational technical assistance on organic farming practices, modern horticultural techniques, and entry into local and regional markets was provided.

The empowerment of women by AIRDO has been very impressive in Khamasom Phungdhar. By supporting women-led SHGs, the organization did not only promote gender equality but also helped give women a central place in economic transformation.

The holistic approach of AIRDO has reduced drug addiction, restored the environment, and opened up new economic prospects in Khamasom Phungdhar.

Cultural and Nutritional Importance of Squash
According to Awungshi Philip Soso, for the Tangkhul tribes of Manipur, squash is much more than a cash crop—it forms an integral part of their culinary tradition and is a versatile source of nutrition.

In Khamasom Phungdhar, it is observed that all parts of the squash plant are used for food; this symbolizes the community’s efforts at giving no scope to waste and making the most of nutritional accumulation.

The squash is used mainly as a fruit that can be boiled and enjoyed in various dishes like boiled squash or cooked with dal. Squash is also often added to soups, stews, and curries seasoned with local herbs that enhance the all-natural flavors.

The leaves and stems are also edible; often, they are used in sautéing or stir-frying with other vegetables to make tasty second dishes. These parts of the plant are rich in vitamins and minerals and help contribute nutrients to the diets of the community. The young shoots, tender buds, and other assorted shoots are steamed or braised with garlic and ginger as a delicacy.

Even the roots, fibrous and nutritious, do not escape soups and broths, adding flavor and healthy value to the whole meal.

Indeed, this use of everything up of the squash plant cuts across traditional knowledge of living sustainably in this Tangkhul community. This is because the practice further illustrates how much importance squash has gained in the diet of the people—where nothing went to waste from the plant.

Not only is squash a vital nutriment for humans, but its leaves are also fed to livestock as animal feed. This embracing of using all parts of the squash plant finds support in the traditional knowledge of communities towards sustainability. Indeed, it exemplifies the cultural significance of squash within the Tangkhul diet, whereby the use of every portion of the plant accounts for no wasting at all, he further added.

Challenges and Future Prospects
Despite all these successes, the cultivation of squash still encounters serious challenges. Most farmers are reluctant to abandon poppy farming once and for all, owing to its high returns. Economic risks arise because alternative quick sources of finance are not available.

Insufficient agricultural infrastructure, such as inefficient storage facilities, processing units, and resultant transportation networks, has also made their job toughest in squeezing all the profitable ingredients from the given products.

Political instability in the region, coupled with ethnic and insurgency conflicts, has been totally disrupting agricultural initiatives. The poor farmers are always caught in the middle of such a situation whereby some are forced by insurgent groups to continue poppy cultivation. These socio-political issues will be necessary to achieve long-term sustainable agriculture in Ukhrul.

However, prospects for the future regarding the cultivation of squash in Khamasom Phungdhar are hopeful. The friendly climate of the region, together with the continuously growing demand for organic products, will be a perfect springboard to boost income and quality of life for the farmers.

Continued support from such bodies as AIRDO and the government’s commitment to ridding the narcotics trade would make squash farming turn into a ‘beacon’ toward the realization of sustainable agricultural development not only in Khamasom Phungdhar but for the entire Tangkhul tribe.

Conclusion
Squash farming in Khamasom Phungdhar has been a new dawn for the Tangkhul tribes in Ukhrul’s continuing battle against drugs, as these villagers have not only adopted a crop that would stay in the field throughout the year but have also engaged in taking a great stride toward economic stability, environmental protection, and community resilience.

Then, squash farming is a recommendation to the world as it is a succeeding aspect of community intervention through the power of local leadership, effective women’s empowerment, and sustainable organizations.

In the fight against poppy cultivation, which tries to outsmart such anti-addiction campaigns with its constant revival, squash stands as an answer of hope to the Tangkhul tribes.

It will represent not only an agricultural change but a cultural and social transformation that helps build an even brighter, healthier, and more prosperous future for the people of Ukhrul. 

The author is Registrar, Khongnangthaba University, Imphal, Manipur, and Faculty, Department of Geography, Pravabati College, Mayang Imphal, Manipur.

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