Ten tribal‑fringe villages along the Kulsi River on Guwahati’s western outskirts have begun cultivating vanilla as a sustainable livelihood to move away from unregulated sand mining and heavy dependence on forest resources. The Office of the Silviculturist, Assam, in partnership with the Wildlife Areas Development and Welfare Trust, launched the initiative under the Kamrup West Forest Division and distributed 500 vanilla cuttings free to the 10 villages, which are covered by four joint forest management committees.
The programme promotes household‑level cultivation that uses existing arecanut, jatropha and coconut trees as supports for vanilla vines. Officials say this model encourages self‑sufficiency on homesteads and can reduce pressure on nearby forests by creating income opportunities outside forest extraction.
At a recent awareness session at Kulsi Janajatiya High School, Conservator of Forests (Research and Education Circle) Dimpi Borah urged wider adoption. “Vanilla cultivation should be promoted as an alternative livelihood to create income opportunities within homesteads and reduce dependence on forest resources,” she said.
Silviculturist Preeti Buragohain stressed the need for market and institutional linkages to secure fair prices and stable demand. She said the department will work to connect growers directly with traders and processors and explore institutional support, including the Spice Board of India, for setting up distillation units in vanilla‑growing areas.
Research officer Himamoni Handique gave technical briefings on vanilla’s habitat, cultivation techniques and its economic prospects, equipping participants with practical knowledge. An exposure visit to Niapoli village in Goalpara’s Dudhnoi took 40 participants through hands‑on training in integrating vanilla into homestead gardens.
“The Niapoli experience showed how vanilla can be integrated into existing homestead gardens using arecanut, jatropha and coconut trees as support. The exposure visit also highlighted market opportunities in vanilla cuttings and beans, helping participants understand the crop’s income potential beyond cultivation,” Buragohain said. Officials view the initiative as a practical step toward greener livelihoods and forest conservation in the Kulsi area.
Original Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/10-assam-villages-turn-to-vanilla-farming-for-greener-livelihoods/articleshow/133661285.cms
Category:
Tags:
Publish Date: 2026-09-01 00:08:00
