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Marcofed Ltd chairman Dr. M Chuba Ao at the launching of the website. Seen in the picture are Marcofed MD (on the right) and board of directors at its office in Dimapur on Friday. Oct. 26.[/caption]
Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Oct. 26 (EMN): With a view to connect with its consumers directly and effectively, the Nagaland Marketing Cooperative Federation Limited (Marcofed Ltd) launched its official website by its chairman Dr. M Chuba Ao at its Dimapur Office on Fri. Oct. 26.
Formally launching the website www.marcofed.com, the chairman said that the main idea behind the launch was to create a co-operative marketing and to start a point for people to contact the institution through the website and also to understand the consumers demand.
The launch of the website was also in commemoration of Marcofed Ltd golden jubilee scheduled to be observed on Dec. 15.
Managing Director of Marcofed, T. Vikuto Zhimo gave an account of the institution established in the year 1968 under the sponsorship of the state govt with an aim for marketing agricultural produces and to understand consumer’s activities.
The MD accounted that Marcofed, initially was active but the institution faced challenging times during the 1990’s due to financial constraints ‘which was beyond the control of the management’.
However, during the last decade, under its ‘Revamping Programme in 2003 and 2006’, the first initiative by the government which was about downsizing of the employees improved the condition of the institution to some extent. Under the programme, the Marcofed Ltd. workforce numbering 118 was downsized to 68 and following which it was downsized to 30 with the implementation of Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS), said Zhimo.
“Also starting from 2007 till date the govt. has started giving financial assistance to the institution though it is not a plan fund, yet the state government in order to revamp Marcofed Ltd. invested in terms of crore”, he said.
Marcofed Ltd. has two LPG services: one in Kohima district with around 8000 consumers and in Phek district with around 3000 consumers. The Marcofed Ice plant of 12 MT capacity located at Signal Basti in Dimapur is also operating quite successfully, the MD maintained.
Zhimo asserted that ‘Marcofed was able to lay down the groundwork and logistics for more efficient ways of conducting marketing activities by establishing godowns, marketing complexes and sheds and build-up other infrastructure facilities in all districts of the state for procurement and distribution of consumer goods to its members and the public, thus bridging the gap between the produce area and the end users’.
Maintaining that with the financial assistance from the state govt. Marcofed was able to take up numerous activities to strengthen its existing infrastructure and reviving those assets rendered inactive in the past due to severe financial constraints. The institution, he remarked, was vigorous to revamp activities and are on the target to create a point for business with central institutions.
“MARCOFED intervention has helped bring in stabilising of price level and quality control in the market and provide goods at reasonable and co-operative price to the public” maintained the managing director.
Marcofed Ltd. board of director member Benry Kikon, who is also the developer for Marcofed Ltd. website, said considering that most of the state govt. website was not as dynamic, the concept was to create buyer and seller segment and to connect the buyer and seller.