Leshemi farmers’ shows trust is still not lost in Naga society
Vishü Rita Krocha
Morung Express News
At a time when the quality of trust is found to be the most wanting in the Naga society, farmers of Leshemi Village under Phek district are showing that trust can still be found in the most unexpected places and in small yet meaningful ways. Trust is- if you are passing through the Viswema to Zuketsa via Kidima NEC Road; do not be surprised to find shops without shopkeepers along the highway in the Zuketsa area.
This is a new trend that a couple of farmers and cultivators from Leshemi village have recently picked up, thanks to a group of young people from the village, who have been encouraging them to practice this novel idea.
These few shops are left open for the customers while they tend to their fields. There is no fancy signage, but all you have to do is pick the product of your choice- the price is scribbled beside it- and leave the money in the container provided and be on your way.
The concept of ‘a shop without shopkeepers’ came about through a small group of young people, who previously studied and worked outside the state, and are now based in the village.
Mizoram farmers have been practicing this concept for years with shop owners sustaining their living more on the “integrity and honesty” of their customers than on the little forest produce, they manage to collect and sell.
Neipetso Lomi currently serving as a teacher at Government Middle School, Leshemi was inspired with the idea after working in the hospitality sector for several years. He previously worked at The Taj and The Oberoi Group among others and also confessed that watching TLC programs had further motivated him to introduce the idea to the farmers.
Stating that this is a concept that is practiced in other countries, he said that Naga farmers can save precious time and manpower by replicating it. “We have been individually motivating our farmers and cultivators to put this into practice and we are encouraged to see that a few couples are setting the trend”, he said.
While this concept of leaving their shops open for customers is enabling the farmers to tend to their fields and farms, it also sends out a strong message of trust. The government teacher said, “We also want to give a good impression that we trust our customers.”
And yes, it requires significant goodwill and trust to put it into practice - which the Leshemi farmers apparently have aplenty.
When asked about the first reaction of the farmers, he informed that they were initially confused and hesitant, but subsequently realized they could greatly benefit from it.
The handful of farmers who practice this ‘shop without shopkeepers’ said the response have been encouraging so far. And surprise. No robbery has taken place since it has been initiated. “There have been instances when we have to leave the vegetable items at the area of sale overnight owing to the distance from the village. Yet when we go back in the morning, both our vegetables and money were intact,” one of the farmer highlighted.
“This creates a sense of trust between us and the customer and we have clearly not been disappointed,” he added. With agriculture as their main occupation, Leshemi village also has a large number of cultivators but business opportunities were scarce. However, the opening of the Viswema to Zuketsa via Kidima NEC Road a couple of years back, has opened new vistas for the farmers cultivating along that highway.
These few shops scattered along the highway are filled with varieties of their farm produce. Neipetso Lomi was happy that the trend of ‘shop without shopkeepers’ has picked up among a couple of farmers. He was also hopeful that more would follow in the days to come.
Not only a time saving idea, the ‘shop without shopkeepers’ is more importantly a trust building initiative, which the Naga society, riddled with distrust in all areas, is in dire need.
