Dimapur, Aug. 19 (EMN): With an aim to form one farmer producer company (FPC) each in four districts of Nagaland namely Phek, Peren, Wokha and Kiphire, Centre of Learning, Knowledge and Services (COLKS) has inked MOUs with 1360 farmers from 27 villages under Mission Organic Value Chain Development - North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) Phase III.
An update from COLKS stated that it had formed 18 farmer interest groups (FIG) in Kiphire district from Yingshukur, Natsami, Thsingar, Pongren, Jenty and Longkhimvong villages. In Phek district, it has formed 16 FIG from Kami,
Matikhru, Tezatzu, Satheri, Suthozu Nasa, U Khomi, M Khomi, and L Khomi villages.
COLKS has also formed 21 FIG in Peren district from New Tesen, Old Tesen, Ndunglwa, Peletkie, Tepun, Upper Singjol, and Leikkeiram villages, while it has formed 13 FIG in Wokha district from Old Chandalashung, New Longchum, New Ralan, New Wokh and Elumyo villages.
It informed that COLKS has formed 68 FIG in the last two weeks. COLKS added that it is yet to sign MOUs with more than 2000 farmers in the next 20 days.
Recently, COLKS branched out its services in Dimapur as a service provider to the department of Agriculture to implement the programme under MOVCDNER Phase III.
COLKS would be handholding farmers from Phek, Peren, Kiphire and Wokha district. The crops selected included ginger, maize, large cardamom and king chilli. Farmers would be provided training on ICS management and certification, branding, labelling, quality control, campaign awareness and also be provided with market linkages under the MOVCDNER Phase III plan over a period of three years, it informed.
In all the programmes held in different districts, COLKS team introduced the company as well as MOVCDNER Phase III plan and also briefed on the formation of FIGs and FPCs. The team spoke on the difficulties faced by the farmers such as poor market linkages and demonstrated the strategies it could offer to strengthen the market linkages with a common dream to reach the global market and build a personal relationship with the farmers.
It mentioned that COLKS has been working with the passion to empower the farming community of the Himalayan Ecosystem for over six years. COLKS believed that the livelihood of the rural community would be significantly enhanced through innovative and creative methods that would provide sustainable and result-driven services for the farmers.
It added that over the years, COLKS has been partnering with different government departments and organisations with the aim to fulfil its mission.
It further stated that farmers are looking forward to being part of the MOVCDNER Phase III plan. It has quoted one farmer as saying: “Market linkages have always been the biggest challenge for us. We are hoping we will be able to see our products in the market after all the training and guidance which will be provided to us”.