Rengdil is a village with a population of 1588 and 338 houses, around 93.95% of total population are Scheduled tribe. More than 60% of the total population depend on agriculture as a major source of livelihood. As per the survey report, most of the farmers have a small plot of land with an objective of transforming that plot of land into settled farming. The major crop grown by the farmers in this area is Areca nut. Favourable climatic conditions coupled with better market linkage make the farming more encouraging for the farmers. The farmers in the village start growing vegetables in their plot of land and slowly transform their plot of land into Areca nut farming. Apart from Areca nut farming, rubber plantation is a common farming in this village, however due to non-availability of market the farming has become less encouraging for the farmers.

Agriculture Scenario

As per the survey report the major crop grown in this village is the same as that of the neighbouring village. Most of the farmers shift from Jhum cultivation to Areca nut farming. The village is reported to have earned more than Rs.500 lakh in 2021. It has been estimated that every family has earned more than Rs.1 lakh annually. Although the farmers have not attained any governmental aid, the farming is still thriving in this area due to market reliability and favourable climatic conditions. However, there are lots of hurdles which even the farmers will even notice from cultivation to even marketing. As per the survey report, the farmers have encountered disease infestation from time to time in the Areca nut farm. Some of the growers have reported that the Areca nut seedlings are still able to grow in the disease infested area unlike other crops like oranges.

 Needs

1. i) Mechanisation

            The farmers in this village have reported that higher labour cost is the main problem in the farming. Generally, Areca nut farms are cleaned at least three times annually, however most of the farmers in this area had it done manually, therefore due to lower mechanisation farmers have to invest some of their income in labour. Mechanisation in plant protection like spraying, chaff cutter, automatic harvesting will reduce the labour cost for the farmers.

1. ii) Seedling

            Farmers in this village also encountered disease infestation in Areca nut trees. As per the experience of the farmers Areca nut trees with a better seedling are more resilient to disease and resistant to die back. Therefore, scientifically prepared seedlings like genetically modified seedlings with better resistance to disease and adequate supply of seedlings will improve the farming and make the farming more secure.

     iii) Fertiliser/manure

            Fertiliser like Urea, NPK etc have not reached the farmers in this village. The farmers in this village have reported that Areca nut trees are more susceptible to disease due to non-utilization of fertiliser, manure in their farm. Therefore, sufficient supply of chemical, organic fertiliser or manure will increase the production and make the farming more reliable in a longer time.

1. iv) Processing

            Most of the Areca nut farmers in Mizoram sell their harvest to mainland middlemen. Apart from that the farmers and the middlemen have undergone a system of agreement on contract farming; where the middlemen inspect the farm and make a decision on the cost of the farm. Therefore, processing surplus Areca nuts will generate more income for the farmers and which in turn will generate employment and entrepreneurship for the youth in the village.