‘Back to our roots for a sustainable village economy’

State government planning on declaring Nagaland an organic state soon    [caption id="attachment_187409" align="alignnone" width="550"] Neiphiu Rio handing over a piglet to a beneficiary in Kohima on Tuesday. (EM Images)[/caption] Our Correspondent Kohima, June 5 (EMN):With the concept of ‘back to our roots’, the Northern Angami Chükehie Society (NACS) has introduced a project called ‘village economic development’ which seeks to take back the people to ‘the roots’ towards rebuilding the village economy traditionally on livestock farming, poultry farming, traditional handicraft, handloom, traditional bamboo works and organic agriculture farming. The project was launched by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Tuesdaymorning at Legacy Complex, in Kohima. While appreciating the ‘visionary initiative of the society to uplift the rural economy’, Rio was confident that this project would immensely benefit the targeted beneficiaries by going back to Nagas’ traditional way of farming for self-sufficiency with the potential of surplus production for economic purpose as well. For economical viability, Rio advised the farmers to opt for crops and livestock which are best suited to their given environment. He also shared the state government plans to declare the state as an ‘organic state’ for which, he informed, it is mulling to launch an ‘organic mission’ soon. At the same time, sharing concern over the destruction of the planet through ‘greed and careless attitude of the people’, Rio emphasised on the need for preservation and conservation of the rich resources available in the state. Encouraging the beneficiaries to undertake the project with all seriousness not only for their livelihood but towards the economic uplift of the entire state, Rio informed that the Minister of Urban Development & Municipal Affairs, Metsubo Jamir who accompanied the chief minister, has assured that his department would provide an outlet for the surplus productions. Presenting a brief highlight on the project, Visakhotuo Kiewhuo said the goals of the project were to build a robust and sustainable village economy making its villages the power house of Naga economy; promote village growth and expansion and not migration to towns and cities, promote good road connectivity of villages with towns and cities; promote healthy living, healthy life style with sound economy in villages; and also promote, preserve and sustain in a refined way the cultural and traditional way of Naga life. Under this project, Kiewhuo said it will promote livestock and poultry backyard farming, paddy field (aqua) fish farming, promote organic agriculture farming, especially crops with GI tagging viz. Naga King chilly and tree tomato, established market linkages, provide transportation facilities for free flow of product carriage to and fro from villages to towns and towns to villages. Besides providing free piglets, chicks, fishlings and free fodder for two months, it will also provide material and financial assistance for construction of pig sty and poultry sheds, free transportation of fodder and livestock and also organise trainings and demonstrations in the fields where progressive farmers and cultivators can share their success story on the know-how, advantages and disadvantages for the others to learn and benefit. For 2018-19, Kiewhuo said livestock and horti-plants will be distributed to villagers as seed product so that they can improve on their economy through this micro-farming while each beneficiary will be given two piglets, and in the event of successful breeding and reproduction they will make contribution to the society for further chain of distribution by the society. Each beneficiary in poultry sector will be given twenty chicks along with free fodder for one month while 20 saplings of grafted lemon tree will be given to each beneficiary for early harvesting of fruits and 25 saplings of Avocado fruit for later commercial production. On demands for special items of horti-plants, he said 100 saplings of tree tomato were provided to Dihoma’s unit. A total of twenty two members will be in implementation cell who will select the beneficiaries in conjunction with the village unit party office bearers; inspect and make observation to make the programme successful. For 2018-19, the society has identified 268 beneficiaries for piggery, 429 for poultry, 50 for lemon cultivation, 75 for avocado and 100 for GeoTag, tree tomato. While it has invested a total of INR 55 lakh for the economic uplift programme under this project, Kiewhuo said the targeted income expected to be generated in one and half year is INR 1,89,40,000.