Nagaland state may be lagging behind on many fronts, but Abokali Jimomi prefers to look upon it as a ‘blank canvas’ that is waiting to be painted.
“We talk of no development, no proper market or infrastructure, but at the same time, it is an opportunity for somebody to try something new,” states the MBA graduate from the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom who returned home last year.
She is the brain behind ‘Organic Nagaland’, an organisation which was formed early this year with its focus on networking local organic growers, training them and empowering Naga men and women at the grassroots level. In the process, she has imparted several trainings to Naga farmers, and in collaboration with the Central Institute of Horticulture, she has also taken them to Bangalore as part of imparting them with more knowledge about organic inputs, market, quality certification, integrated pest management, network with organic enthusiasts etc, in this aspect.
Her goal for now lies in concentrating on the local area first and eventually local produce.
But as she studies the ground realities, she feels a little disheartened to see our local markets flooded by non-local produce and ruefully says, “We have the land and the potential to produce but all our wealth are spent elsewhere.”
“We have to make concerted efforts to make local produce available all through the year...if we can capture 20% of our market, or even 5% for that matter, it is going to grow”, she asserts. She passionately adds, “Let us get vegetables from our own farms to our kitchens first.”
Observing that 90% of our people live in rural areas and villages, engaging themselves in basic activities, she says that there is immense capability and potential but expresses concern over whether we are effectively making use of these resources.
“We need to empower ourselves, produce our own food...” says Abokali while pointing out that people in Nagaland buy everything from outside. Even farmers are now leaving their farming profession saying ‘let us stop because we do not want to work anymore, she adds
“Why are we not using the creativity and the originality?” she questions as she delves in deeper and voicing discontentment over the stigma that the rush for government jobs has generated. She lamented the existing mindset among our people which views only white collar government jobs as the one super prestigious goal.
It is also her aspiration to involve educated unemployed youths in her endeavour to achieve her goal of promoting organic food while insisting that entrepreneurship is basically about generating employment although she realises that doing that is going to be a bit of a challenge as even those who studied agriculture do not practically want to go back to the fields.
However, despite everything, Abokali believes that there is huge potential for organic produce because it is ‘chemical free, it tastes better, and is good for the soil’. “It is about the soil actually,” she adds as she dwells once more on the organic input, organic manure, and explains further that as we don’t throw chemicals into it, it helps preserve our ecosystem and our environment.
“It is the most sustainable form of agriculture,” she maintains.
And yet onto another dream of hers, which she is already pursuing, is the documentation of the Sumi Oral Traditions, a research project aimed at reviving Sumi language, culture and traditional practices to restore a stronger cultural identity and cultural self-worth of the Sumi people. Talking about project, she says this has always been close to her heart while expressing concern that there is no documented history in this regard. Language, she feels, is also on the verge of extinction, and although, there is a revival of culture, there has been a long gap.
Ever since she returned from the UK, she has been busying herself in documenting the rich legacy of culture, visiting village after village in Zunheboto district and, at the same time, working towards achieving a greater goal through ‘Organic Nagaland’.
Ironically, she grew up thinking she would become a doctor, it being the ultimate ambition every parent had for their children. But somewhere along the way, she decided she wanted to do something else. “Over the years, I think I came to realise the value of speaking with the person within me,” she says. “I feel life is a discovery till you die, you keep learning about yourself.” And that’s how she decided that she should love what she does.
“I find joy in discovering or creating something new”, she adds.
She is also the brain behind ‘Green Club’ in Zunheboto, which she initiated with a few friends with the aim to spread awareness on environmental issues, promote civic sense among the citizens of the town and to engage young people to take positive action. Following the launch of this club, they have conducted seminars, cleanliness drives and tree plantation with students from different schools and colleges of Zunheboto.
With experience as Assistant Manager- Operations at ICICI Onesource Bangalore for one of UK’s Media and Entertainment giants and later as Manager-Operations at Marlabs Software Pvt. Ltd at Bangalore India, the effervescent lady who grew up in Zunheboto exhibits promise of greater things to come.
With a love for all things poetry, classical music, and an avid writer and traveller herself, interestingly, the idea of running a factory, processing food and doing something for people in the village fascinated her as a kid. This dream, it seems, is already taking shape as she gets down to the basics.
She is the brain behind ‘Organic Nagaland’, an organisation which was formed early this year with its focus on networking local organic growers, training them and empowering Naga men and women at the grassroots level. In the process, she has imparted several trainings to Naga farmers, and in collaboration with the Central Institute of Horticulture, she has also taken them to Bangalore as part of imparting them with more knowledge about organic inputs, market, quality certification, integrated pest management, network with organic enthusiasts etc, in this aspect.
Her goal for now lies in concentrating on the local area first and eventually local produce.
But as she studies the ground realities, she feels a little disheartened to see our local markets flooded by non-local produce and ruefully says, “We have the land and the potential to produce but all our wealth are spent elsewhere.”
“We have to make concerted efforts to make local produce available all through the year...if we can capture 20% of our market, or even 5% for that matter, it is going to grow”, she asserts. She passionately adds, “Let us get vegetables from our own farms to our kitchens first.”
Observing that 90% of our people live in rural areas and villages, engaging themselves in basic activities, she says that there is immense capability and potential but expresses concern over whether we are effectively making use of these resources.
“We need to empower ourselves, produce our own food...” says Abokali while pointing out that people in Nagaland buy everything from outside. Even farmers are now leaving their farming profession saying ‘let us stop because we do not want to work anymore, she adds
“Why are we not using the creativity and the originality?” she questions as she delves in deeper and voicing discontentment over the stigma that the rush for government jobs has generated. She lamented the existing mindset among our people which views only white collar government jobs as the one super prestigious goal.
It is also her aspiration to involve educated unemployed youths in her endeavour to achieve her goal of promoting organic food while insisting that entrepreneurship is basically about generating employment although she realises that doing that is going to be a bit of a challenge as even those who studied agriculture do not practically want to go back to the fields.
However, despite everything, Abokali believes that there is huge potential for organic produce because it is ‘chemical free, it tastes better, and is good for the soil’. “It is about the soil actually,” she adds as she dwells once more on the organic input, organic manure, and explains further that as we don’t throw chemicals into it, it helps preserve our ecosystem and our environment.
“It is the most sustainable form of agriculture,” she maintains.
And yet onto another dream of hers, which she is already pursuing, is the documentation of the Sumi Oral Traditions, a research project aimed at reviving Sumi language, culture and traditional practices to restore a stronger cultural identity and cultural self-worth of the Sumi people. Talking about project, she says this has always been close to her heart while expressing concern that there is no documented history in this regard. Language, she feels, is also on the verge of extinction, and although, there is a revival of culture, there has been a long gap.
Ever since she returned from the UK, she has been busying herself in documenting the rich legacy of culture, visiting village after village in Zunheboto district and, at the same time, working towards achieving a greater goal through ‘Organic Nagaland’.
Ironically, she grew up thinking she would become a doctor, it being the ultimate ambition every parent had for their children. But somewhere along the way, she decided she wanted to do something else. “Over the years, I think I came to realise the value of speaking with the person within me,” she says. “I feel life is a discovery till you die, you keep learning about yourself.” And that’s how she decided that she should love what she does.
“I find joy in discovering or creating something new”, she adds.
She is also the brain behind ‘Green Club’ in Zunheboto, which she initiated with a few friends with the aim to spread awareness on environmental issues, promote civic sense among the citizens of the town and to engage young people to take positive action. Following the launch of this club, they have conducted seminars, cleanliness drives and tree plantation with students from different schools and colleges of Zunheboto.
With experience as Assistant Manager- Operations at ICICI Onesource Bangalore for one of UK’s Media and Entertainment giants and later as Manager-Operations at Marlabs Software Pvt. Ltd at Bangalore India, the effervescent lady who grew up in Zunheboto exhibits promise of greater things to come.
With a love for all things poetry, classical music, and an avid writer and traveller herself, interestingly, the idea of running a factory, processing food and doing something for people in the village fascinated her as a kid. This dream, it seems, is already taking shape as she gets down to the basics.
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