Nagaland: AIDA distributes farm equipment to 4 adopted villages

Dimapur, March 14 (EMN): ANMA Integrated Development Association (AIDA) distributed farm mechanisation equipment to farmers’ clubs of four adopted villages — Urra, Khriezephe, Bade and Diezephe.

The equipment was flagged off by Rajesh Soundarajan, DC, Dimapur on Monday.

It may be mentioned that AIDA was the implementing agency for the SBI Gram Seva programme in Dimapur. The farm mechanisation equipment handed over to the farmer clubs include power tillers, tiller trolleys, grass cutters and lawn mowers.  

Farmers clubs are formed in each of the villages who will take ownership of the farm equipment, an update stated.

It said that the farmer clubs have put in their share of investment towards the purchase of the machines. Under the responsibility and ownership  of the farmer’s club, the machines will be rented out to other farmers in need to generate revenue and aid in better agricultural production, reduction in time spent by villagers for agricultural activities and reduce farm drudgery.

On the occasion, Rajesh Soundarajan spoke on the importance of various programmes and schemes available in different departments for the best use of resources for sustainable growth. He also stressed on the importance of farm mechanisation which helps to improve agricultural yield and economic growth among the farmers and reduce the need for manpower.

Abinash Hembrom. SBI AGM RBO Dimapur who was the guest of honour spoke on the importance of SBI foundation and programmes and activities of SBI to reach out to people in general.

He informed that SBI Gram Seva programme is part of CSR implemented by AIDA – Don Bosco.

Rev. Fr. Roy George SDB, Executive Director, AIDA said that India is one of the top countries with respect to agricultural production, but in terms of farm mechanisation, it is behind the world average.

‘Tractor density in India is approximately 16 tractors for 1000 hectares of land, while the world average is 19 tractors and that of the developed countries is still higher. Challenges for the marginal farmers are many in the field of mechanisation. In the first place the marginal farmers believe that higher technology is complex. Secondly, the higher cost of equipment requires the farmers to invest an amount that they cannot afford. It is in this context that the intervention of AIDA, through the SBI Gram Seva programme has enabled four of our farmers’ clubs from the adopted villages to have this equipment for the farm mechanisation,’ it stated.

A request was also presented to the DC from all the adopted villages for scaling up of kitchen garden, mushroom cultivation, cuniculture and poultry development under MGNREGA and for the SBI Sanjeevani health facility offered to the rural villages in and around Dimapur.