In the year 2014, when NGT banned rat hole mining in Meghalaya, deeming it as ‘illegal’ and ‘unscientific’, the livelihood of several people who were directly involved in the practice were
affected. While some community members faced the brunt of being unable to earn a decent livelihood, others took up alternative and more sustainable forms of livelihood. This is the story of Shri. Pynwanshuh War from East Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya who did not allow the NGT ban on rat hole mining to affect his livelihood. Instead, he used it as an opportunity to switch to a more sustainable means of income generation, while becoming a role model for others to follow.
Hailing from Latyrke in Khliehriat, East Jaintia Hills District, Pynwanshuh War initially worked as a driver and often as a daily wage labourer in the coal mining areas of the district. After the
ban on coal mining by NGT, he decided to take up piggery as a form of income generation to sustain his family’s needs and requirements.
The 50-yr-old restarted his life as a piggery farmer in 2014, immediately after the NGT imposed ban on ‘unscientific’ rate hole mining in the state. However, rearing pigs was not a new skill that he needed to acquire from scratch as he used to rear a few pigs even during his younger days, but not as a means of income. As a child, he remembered rearing just 3 to 4 pigs.
Since the beginning of his venture as a piggery farmer, he is now able to rear almost 25 pigs and piglets respectively. Mr. War’s success has been a source of hope and inspiration for many farmers, not only in his village but also in the surrounding areas. He has not only sustained an income generating project through piggery farming but has also managed to motivate others to do the same.
Despite the fact that he studied only till class VI, he did not allow this to deter him from doing what he wanted to do and reclaiming a life of dignity and respect. His experiences led him to
become a successful piggery farmer.
He has seven children and he earns enough money through his piggery to earn a comfortable life. Earlier, when he worked at the mines, he barely earned enough for his family but today, he is earning around INR 3 lakh a year only from piggery farming. Apart from this, he also practices poultry farming and he has around 20 chickens. But he focuses more on piggery as he believes that pigs can change the fortune of any farmer.
Between the years 2016-17, Shri War was able to get a piggery shed through the assistance of MGNREGS at Saipung C&RD Block. Likewise, in the year 2018-19, he was able to get a poultry shed through the assistance of MGNREGA at Saipung C&RD Block.
He believes that piggery farm will not only give him the economic stability he needs but also promote agriculture and allied activities. The pig waste can be used as manure to cultivate crops. The crops cultivated can then be sold to the market and vice-versa. Piggery farming does not end there but it also brings connections in the form of contacts in various markets. Piggery farming is a low cost rearing activity which brings high returns.
Shri. Pynwanshuh War is a farmer who is dedicated to his farming activities. He is not doing this for himself alone but for his family. He continues to inspire others in and around his village by overcoming unexpected challenges and treading a sustainable path for prosperity.