Covid-19 a wake-up call to change mindset — Anenla Sato

Our Correspondent
Kohima, May 5 (EMN): Commissioner and Secretary of Horticulture Anenla Sato on Tuesday said that everyone is in a threshold of change with the Covid-19 pandemic and called upon the agri and allied department to increase food productivity in a quick and time-bound manner.

Addressing the participants at the horticulture special drives for Covid-19 in the conference hall of directorate of Agriculture, she maintained that the situation has awakened everyone in terms of lifestyles. Sato said the pandemic has affected the whole outlook and adversely hit the global economy and forced the world to adapt from ‘survival of the fittest to the survival of the quickest.’ In this regard, she urged the agriculture and allied services to be quick and act in time bound manner.

She maintained that the Covid-19 is an awakening call for the world to change its mindset, to think positively and to 'work and eat.' She added that the world is being devastated and everyone has to go back for one's own produce rather than depending on others.

Exhorting the officers and staff, she told them not to be duty officers alone but be work-oriented having a pivotal role in the mission for self-sufficiency. She enlightened them by saying that Nagaland has all seasons of the world to grow food and other crops throughout the year.

Pointing out agri-allied department as an essential department, she stated that failure to provide self- sufficiency to the people would put much blame on them but when people are contented it would be a pride of the departments.

She also commended the department and farmers for their efforts in supplying foods and vegetables to the people in and around the towns.

Also addressing the participants, joint director of Horticulture, Jerry Patton said there is high demand for food but shortage in supply. He said the lockdown due to Covid-19 is a wake-up call for everyone to grow more and told the participants to spread the message to all the farmers to grow more food crops.

Two deputy director of horticulture, Dr. Moa Walling and Mesetenuo also spoke during the meeting as the department of horticulture gears up for special drive on the theme 'Grow more, produce more and earn more.'