Shri Chongtham Khogendro Singh, aged 47, is a progressive vegetable farmer from Khoijuman Mayai Leikai, Bishnupur district, Manipur. A graduate by education, he cultivates a variety of vegetables on his one-hectare farm. Recognized for his achievements in horticulture, he was conferred the Best Farmer Award 2025 during the National Horticulture Fair organized by ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Institute, Bengaluru.
Khoijuman village, part of the vegetable belt of Manipur, has seen increased adoption of yard long bean cultivation as a means of income generation. However, most farmers in Bishnupur district rely on imported varieties of yard long beans from Thailand, China, and Myanmar. These varieties have short shelf lives and are grown from non-certified seeds without scientific protocols, leading to inconsistent yields and reduced profitability. The lack of access to improved, institutionally developed varieties further hinders productivity.
To address these challenges, ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Bishnupur (Manipur) initiated an On-Farm Testing (OFT) under its 2024 Action Plan to evaluate the performance of the yard long bean variety Arka Mangala (F1), developed by ICAR-IIHR. Four farmers, including Shri Khogendro Singh, were selected from Khoijuman, Bishnupur Ward No. 11, and Leimaram Heinoubok villages for the trial.
Prior to the implementation of OFT, a one-day on-campus training programme was conducted at KVK Bishnupur, focusing on scientific cultivation practices of Arka Mangala.
The recommended package of practices included:
• Seed rate: 25 kg/ha
• FYM application: 5 tonnes/ha
• Fertilizer dose (NPK): 30:60:50 kg/ha
• Spacing: 45 cm × 15 cm
Each farmer received 1 kg of Arka Mangala seeds for the trial.
Shri Khogendro Singh cultivated Arka Mangala on a 625 sq.m. plot, sowing seeds on 28th July 2024. The first flowering was observed 42 days after sowing (DAS), and 50% flowering occurred by 49 DAS. Harvesting began at 58 DAS and continued every 3–4 days, resulting in 18 harvests. The peak harvest of 122 kg was recorded on 31st October 2024.
He reported minimal pest and disease incidence, with only mild aphid and pod borer infestations, which were effectively managed. Additionally, he harvested and sold young, fresh leaves considered a local delicacy thereby generating extra income. He observed that the Arka Mangala plants had thicker, denser foliage compared to other varieties, enhancing both pod and leaf yield.
Due to the superior performance of Shri Khogendro's field, a Field Day was organized on 27th September 2024 to demonstrate the fruiting and yield potential of Arka Mangala. The programme, coordinated under the guidance of Dr. P. Bijaya Devi, SMS (Horticulture), KVK Bishnupur, saw participation from 30 farmers (22 men and 8 women) and officials including Smt. S. Sushilla Chanu, District Officer, Department of Horticulture and Soil Conservation, Bishnupur.
The event created widespread interest among neighboring farmers, reinforcing the principle of “Seeing is believing” as an effective extension strategy.
From his 625 sq.m. plot, Shri Khogendro Singh harvested a total yield of 1580 kg over four months. The shelf life of Arka Mangala pods was 5 days, significantly longer than the check variety (2 days). With a production cost of Rs. 9,800, he earned a gross return of Rs. 69,520 (selling at Rs. 44/kg), achieving a net profit of Rs. 59,720.
The successful cultivation of Arka Mangala demonstrated its potential as a high-income crop for vegetable growers in Bishnupur district. Its longer shelf life, high yield, market acceptability, and minimal pest incidence make it ideal for adoption under Front Line Demonstration (FLD) programmes. Increasing interest among local farmers suggests that Arka Mangala could play a significant role in improving farm income and enhancing livelihoods in Manipur’s vegetable belts.
(Source: ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Bishnupur District, Manipur)
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