Since 2022, Thrive for Good has partnered with communities across India to promote sustainable food production, nutrition, and resilient livelihoods.
This project in Manipur shows what’s possible when people are empowered with knowledge, resources, and hope.
Transcript:
I am Thangkhohao Touthang from Songpi village.
My family and I depend on agriculture for our livelihood.
I practiced conventional farming and used herbicides to clear the land.
After sowing seeds, if the crops did not grow well,
I would buy and apply chemical fertilizers.
Later, I would use pesticides to control pests.
Sometimes, I spent more money than I earned from the harvest.
My traditional method of vegetable gardening was not profitable,
and it was not enough to support my family.
Since Thrive came into our lives, things have changed.
Now, I have enough vegetables for my family, and I no longer need to buy vegetables from the market.
Instead, I am able to earn from selling my produce, and the savings help support my children’s education.
I have also seen improvements in my family’s health.
Compared to the food we used to eat before, the organic harvests we eat now keep us healthier and less sick.
Before Thrive, I never had enough and often had to work for daily wages.
Now, by the grace of God, Thrive has helped me provide enough for my family.
Today, I am not only self-employed, but I also have enough work to employ others.
These are some of the benefits and positive changes we have received through Thrive.
In the past, I had no knowledge about NPK.
Now, I understand it much better.
We have a plant called “Phalbi Pah” (Tithonia), which grows abundantly in our area.
Through Thrive, I learned that it contains a high amount of nitrogen and is very beneficial for gardening.
I also learned that wood ash is a good source of phosphorus.
These natural resources have helped me greatly in my garden.
I also discovered that potassium can come from banana peels and other plants.
Through Thrive, I learned that pests and insects are always searching for places to lay their eggs.
The fragrance of marigold flowers helps confuse pests and protect the crops naturally.
Using natural methods to control pests is one of the valuable lessons I learned from Thrive.
I also learned about the importance of microbes in the soil for healthy plant growth.
The knowledge I gained from Thrive is one of the greatest gifts I have received.
I am happy because no one can ever take this knowledge away from me.
