Neidilhoutuo Sechü
DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 5
WHAT can possibly be common between Gujarat a state in the extreme west of India and Nagaland in its extreme east, nay northeastern corner? The response is farming.
The Vibrant Gujarat Global Agriculture Business Summit 2013, Best Farmer Award in Gandhinagar from the 9th to the 10th of September will honor eight farmers from Nagaland.
This comes as a much needed boost for the state struggling to achieve self sufficiency in food grain production.The farmers selected are first amongst equals as they have been able to crave a niche for themselves by being model farmers with record production in their respective fields of farming.
Meet Toluvi Zhimo, son of Hetoi Zhimo, from Khekiho village under Dhansiripar block in Dimapur district. Zhimo has been selected for the award for his achievement in sericulture and fishery farming. Awards have been coming the way of the 50 year old farmer since 2007. He is recipient of the “Best Farmer Award’ of Dimapur district in 2007, the ‘Best Muga Farmer Award’ under Sericulture department in 2008 and the ‘Best Farmer Award’ under ATMA in 2012.
But the award this time is different. It will be his first national award .Reacting to the recognition Zhimo said he considers himself very fortunate. It has encouraged him he says to strive harder till only age proves a challenge.
All the selected farmer awardees for the summit will receive a cash prize of Rs 50,000 each, shawl, memento and scroll of honour.
Zhimo also expressed his indebtedness to the Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Though his efforts, commitment and dedication cannot be undermined, this humble farmer gladly admits that he owes his success to the Sericulture department and Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA).
“I wouldn’t have achieved this far if not because of the financial assistance, training programmes, technical guidance, exposure tours and machineries given by ATMA and the Seri department.
It saved me time, enhanced my production and gave me the knowledge to surge ahead,” he thankfully said.
Though a farmer who only studied till standard two at Lower Primary School in his native Shipu village under Zunheboto district, Zhimo now permanently settles in Khekiho village and lives a prosperous life with his wife and eight children.
With his children assisting him in farming activities, now he earns about Rs three to four lakhs annually. And this is a life story to tell after learning that he began his farming activity with Rs 6000 financial assistance given by the Seri department in 2004.
He is even said to have received Rs 20,000 by the same department the following year after the department officials visited his farm field. He was given another package of Rs 1,30,000 to expand his farming and Rs 1,50,000 the next year.
His association with ATMA began in 2011-12 season where he received Rs 10,000 as seed money and continued the following year. Making use of the assistance provided, this energetic farmer continued getting the attention of agri department officials and won more hearts for his growing success. He has only improved his relation with ATMA by becoming one of the most faithful and committed farmer among the 107 farmers’ friend of ATMA Dimapur.
Today Zhimo has nine fishery ponds and four acres of land under sericulture farming and wishes to expand more. He also wishes to see more Nagas professionally involving in agriculture so that we become self sufficient. “Be committed and dedicated,” is what he advised the farmers.
After this national farmer award what could possibly be in store next for the man with the green fingers.
