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Dimapur, Nov. 25 (EMN): Agriculture Production Commissioner Y Kikheto Sema, who is also the managing director of Focus (Fostering Climate Resilient Upland Farming Systems) project under IFAD (International Fund for Agriculture Development), called on Rasha Yousef Omar, country director of IFAD at the United Nations Office at Lodhi Road in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Sema stated that the Focus project is covering 647 villages in eight districts of Kohima, Wokha, Mokokchung, Longleng, Mon, Phek, Kiphire and Zunheboto.
According to a statement, Sema said that out of the total project cost of INR 612.42 crore, the total amount of IFAD loan is INR 273.70 crore, which is 44.70% of the total project cost; and IFAD grant is INR 3.74 crore, which is 0.61%.
The balance amount is to be funded in the form of salaries to the officers and staff drawn from the Agri and allied departments, which consist of about 19.34 % and the remaining 35.35%, are to be funded through convergence from line departments under CSS schemes and farmers’ contributions, it stated.
He however stated that 'convergence of funds and activities from the line departments could not be possible as expected due to various practical difficulties, which have also delayed the projects.'
Sema also stated that so far, the project could receive pre-financing of only INR 35 crore from the state government in two years as against INR 273.70 crore IFAD loan for 6 years, which is hardly 13%.
"He admitted that at this rate the projects would not be able to achieve the targeted goals. He also informed that the state Finance department has assured to pre-finance the project in spite of its resource constraints provided that the same is reimbursed by IFAD early," it read.
Rasha Yousef Omar has stated that they are worried for the 'non-performing states of Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Mizoram, and Nagaland.' She assured that a midterm review of the project will be taking up in the month of January or February.
"She stated that she would give special focus for the success of the project for all the non-performing states particularly for the states of Nagaland and Mizoram. She has also stated that with the active leadership and participation of Sema and his team, She wishes to see changes and improvement of the project from non-performing to performing state," it read.
Omar also said that Nagaland can be a 'seed hub'. Sema stated that the state government would be taking up to the concerned Ministry for consideration of a seed bank in Nagaland for the NER.