Cucumber has been traditionally cultivated by Naga farmers in their jhum fields as a mixed crop during the Kharif season (April to August). It is one of the important component crops in the Jhum field and the crop is used, mostly for household consumption and sometimes sold at the local market. Kharif crops of cucumber are harvested during rainy seasons and do not fetch a good price due to large production during the peak season. Besides there is high market demand of cucumber during off season but efforts were not made by the farmers to cultivate off season cucumber. One vegetable based group comprised of Longchem SHG, innovative and progressive farmers from Aliba village felt the need and took up ‘off-season’ cucumber cultivation as the fields were left fallow after the paddy is harvested. Though they had no technical knowledge and skills, with very little farming experience and traditional knowledge, tested the preserved seeds from Jhum   field. Due to lack of technical know-how, the initial results were very discouraging. Sensing the possibility of growing the crop and its economic value the KVK, under NICRA project intervened by imparting trainings, technical guidance etc, to them. The technical guidance given by the KVK staff resulted positively and this made them to take up cucumber cultivation in a large scale and this ‘off-season’ crop soon hit the markets and earned them a good fortune as the produce fetched a much better income than the seasonal cucumbers. On an average they could harvest 150 Q/ha and earned a net profit of Rs. 1,85,000/-. Today, with the success of this group, not only the Aliba  villagers but also farmers from the neighboring villages viz, Chungtia, and Kinunger  took up ‘off-season’ cucumber cultivation.   

Today, the ‘off-season’ cucumbers from Mokokchung district have gained much popularity within the state and now it has become a trend amongst the farmers in the district. The farmer from these villages not only produces the cucumber but also act as a supplier of seeds. Farmers from other districts of Nagaland have  visited the fields and they have been motivated to try in their respective villages.