Guwahati: Ten tribal-fringe villages along the Kulsi River on the western outskirts of Guwahati are embracing a greener future and turning to vanilla cultivation as an alternative sustainable livelihood, in an effort to move away from unregulated sand mining and heavy dependence on forest resources.Officials said promoting livelihoods in homesteads and other non-forest areas in the Kulsi area could reduce pressure on surrounding forests. The Office of the Silviculturist, Assam, in collaboration with the Wildlife Areas Development and Welfare Trust, has launched a vanilla cultivation initiative under the Kamrup West Forest Division.Under the initiative, 500 vanilla cuttings were distributed free of cost among 10 forest-fringe villages covered by four joint forest management committees. The crop will be cultivated using existing arecanut, jatropha and coconut trees as support, promoting self-sufficiency and forest conservation.Speaking at an awareness programme held recently at Kulsi Janajatiya High School, conservator of forests, research and education circle, Dimpi Borah, said, “Vanilla cultivation should be promoted as an alternative livelihood to create income opportunities within homesteads and reduce dependence on forest resources.”Silviculturist Preeti Buragohain highlighted the need for market and institutional linkages to ensure fair prices and stable markets for growers. She said efforts would be made to connect vanilla cultivators directly with traders and processors. She also spoke on institutional linkages such as Spice Board of India for installation of distillation units in the vanilla growing areas.Research officer Himamoni Handique delivered a presentation on the nature and habitat of vanilla, cultivation techniques and its economic prospects. The programme provided participants with basic technical knowledge as well as an understanding of the potential of vanilla as an income-generating activity.An exposure visit was later organised to Niapoli village in Goalpara’s Dudhnoi recently, where 40 participants from the 10 forest-fringe villages of Kulsi received hands-on training in household-level vanilla cultivation.“The Niapoli experience showed how vanilla can be integrated into existing homestead gardens using arecanut, jatropha and coconut trees as support. Buragohain said the exposure visit also highlighted market opportunities in vanilla cuttings and beans, helping participants understand the crop’s income potential beyond cultivation,” Buragohain said.
