Noni Lyngdoh, 39, a mother of five from Patharkhmah village, Jirang block, Ri-Bhoi district, struggled with limited market access, dependence on middlemen, post-harvest losses, and unstable crop prices. Though she cultivated a diverse range of crops and was an active member of her community, securing a stable income and improving her family’s nutrition remained difficult. Her situation reflected the broader challenges faced by many smallholder farmers in the region.

Everything began to change when Noni became part of the APFP-FO4A project and joined a Farmers’ Organization (FO), the Western Ri-bhoi Farmer Producer Cooperative Society. This connection opened doors to a wide network of smallholder farmers and access to essential capacity-building initiatives. Through trainings on sustainable farming, value addition, marketing, financial management, and cooperative governance, she strengthened both her technical skills and her confidence. The project also linked her with markets, input suppliers, and expert advisors, which helped her reduce post-harvest losses, improve crop quality, and increase her earnings. These opportunities not only uplifted Noni’s livelihood but also positioned her as an emerging role model in her community.

In 2023, the Western Ri-bhoi Farmer Producer Cooperative Society received funding from the APFP-FO4A program to establish a collection centre for raw pineapple, black pepper, broom grass, and ginger, and to procure machines for cleaning, grading, and processing these products. This facility strengthened value-chain opportunities for farmers like Noni, reducing dependence on middlemen and enabling more efficient, higher-quality processing and marketing.