Sisen shows the way: a 100 percent spice growing village

| Gandhi DARANG |
ITANAGAR, Oct 26: Located in one of the remotest areas in Nugong Banggo of East Siang district, Sisen under Pangin circle has totally turned into organic spices growing village with its natives taking up the venture for self sustenance without eyeing for contract works or white colour govt jobs.
The village with 20 households produced enthusiast farmers from each house that grows spices such as cardamom, ginger, red chilli, turmeric, medicinal and aromatic plants, and other agriculture and horticulture products.
Despite having ramshackle road communication, the villagers have successfully produced more than two tonnes of large cardamom (Golsey) this year itself and sold it out to nearest market in Kekar Monying (near Sisen hanging bridge), Pasighat and Dibrugarh at the rates varying from Rs 800 to 950 per kg.
Young farmer from Sisen, Bakin Siram, who was participating in a national seminar on spices at Itanagar, said, “Despite having road for trekking, our villagers succeed in carrying cardamom and other horticulture products by head load from our respective farms to nearest motor-able road by covering around 5 to 6 km after crossing hanging bridge. A person used to carry more than 35 kg of cardamom in local made basket worth around Rs 30,000 (per basket). ”
Siram also shared that because of fertile soil, each household in the village earns minimum amount of Rs one lakh annually from cardamom, orange and ginger which made them to sustain themselves without depending on contract works and govt job. Apart from spices cultivation, the women from the village sell green vegetable, red chilli, fruits etc to run their kitchen only, he added.
He said earlier the villagers even hardly earn Rs 10,000 per year before opting horticulture and agriculture farming. “Earlier our people hardly earn even Rs 10,000 per annum before taking such activities. Now, even we have admitted our children in various private schools located at Pangin, Pasighat, Aalo and Itanagar,” he revealed.
In his mid 30’s, Siram further told that the villagers have started farming rubber and medicinal plants, and if proper road is connected, he says that each village man will earn a minimum of Rs five lakh from such produces.
While seeing the handiwork and enthusiasm of Sisen farmers, East Siang DHO Balom Apum said, “Sisen has been one of the successful farming centers of Arunachal Pradesh”. Despite having bottleneck in road communication, depending only on lone hanging bridge as lifeline, they have successfully utilized the schemes provided by Horticulture Department, he added.

“We provide seedlings, barbed wires and construct water tanks from govt schemes for them. They identify areas for community farming near their village and utilize it judiciously while practicing farming activities together,” he said.
The British troops had launched an attack to the Adi warriors during the historic Anglo-Abor war (Poju Mimak) nearby Sisen village on 4th Dec, 1911. The bunkers used by Britishers during the war are still visible there. Despite having all these potentials to be front runners, the villagers here are lagging far behind and still depending on porter tracks and ramshackle hanging bridge for all purposes. The light of development would only dawn on the people once the unconnected villages, including Pongging are linked with the Trans-Arunachal Highway from Dite-Dime to Pasighat-Mariyang road. “Claiming no vote for no road”, the villagers of Sisen boycotted the simultaneous elections held in April last and they are still seen adamant to fight for road construction to their village.