CORRESPONDENT
TINSUKIA: The Buddha Vihar Dhamma Sangani Trust, in association with EdEn, Tinsukia-based environmental NGO, organized a day-long Entrepreneurship and Skill Development programme on vanilla cultivation at Margherita Buddha Vihar on Saturday.
Rajarshi Das, Secretary EdEn, Moumita Saha, Assistant Teacher Commerce Department, Budding Buds Senior Secondary School, Tinsukia and Dr Nandita Roy, Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics, Tinsukia College were the resource persons who imparted necessary skills and technical knowledge regarding the farming and economics of Vanilla. Coinciding with Earth Day which is celebrated all over the world, the programme involved interaction and shared learning with 75 participants from various fields whose enthusiasm for the Vanilla orchid brought them together under the aegis of this workshop.
With research and study spanning many years, Das said, “Vanilla is an orchid with a very high agronomic potential and is best suited to the climatic conditions here.” He also emphasized its prospects as a community-based initiative in organic agriculture where it can encourage sustainable livelihood solutions if necessary awareness, training and skills are provided regarding its propagation, pollination, processing and market linkages. Moumita Saha and Dr Nandita Roy gave a practical demonstration of the hand pollination method (Albius method) on the blooming vanilla flowers present in the monastery.
Bhante Baba of the Buddha Vihar, whose interest and passion for horticulture led him to grow and propagate the Vanilla vines all around the monastery, shared his learning experience along with the participants. He called upon all interested stakeholders to commit to a wider understanding of the process and nuances in the cultivation of Vanilla and also inspire a larger audience to take it up as a beneficial community agro-practice.