Dimse D Shira

My name is Dimse D Shira and I am a Black Pepper farmer from South West Garo Hills, Meghalaya, India.

I have been growing Black Pepper for a long time. My maternal relatives had passed on Black Pepper farming to my mother and now I care for the farm.

I am motivated to continue the legacy that my grandmother has left me. It has helped them with their livelihood and now it is helping me. So, you can say this is what motivates me.

We get the already germinated black pepper from the local nursery which I then grow around the roots of tall rainforest trees. These are for the new plants. The older black pepper needs to be cleaned and pruned and dead leaves need to be trimmed off and I have to make sure there are no pests.

This year, 2024, some of our older, matured black pepper vines died while the others didn't bear much fruit. I am not sure about the causes; it could be because it is hotter this year.

We do not have a direct market where we can sell directly to customers, but other resellers come and buy it from me.

The future as I see it, will be to continue farming the Black Pepper. This year I harvested 17 kgs. I am hoping to yield more.

Yes, I can use it for my daily expenses at home and for my family. The others in my village also grow black pepper and are doing very well for themselves.

Besides black pepper, I am also growing nut trees and cashew trees and I have a small kitchen garden. I do enjoy it.