Our Correspondent
Kohima, May 16 (EMN): In a race to plant one billion fruit trees by 2050, Entrepreneur Associates (EA) have been mobilising farmers to participate in their flagship Trees for Wealth (TfW) programme, which was launched in 2019.
As part of the grassroots level implementation of the project, the EA led by its Project Associate Vekhoselu Tetse-o and Branch Head, Pfutsero, Cukhoyi Chiero on Monday met with the farmers of Thipuzu Village.
Over 65+ farmers and young unemployed graduates participated in the meeting and a total of 19 people registered on the spot to be a part of the TfW project. The remaining participants are expected to register in the coming days. For further coordination, one local farmer has been appointed to take care of the project registration.
To register under the TfW Project, a sum of INR 200 is collected as membership fee and INR 1000 as security deposit, refundable after five years.
Project Associate Vekhoselu Tetse-o informed the young unemployed graduates and farmers gathered that there are lots of opportunities to generate income by planting fruit trees apart from government jobs.
The TfW has impacted hundreds of farmers to date. Over 4000+ farmers from across the state have registered as a member and 3.60 lakh fruit trees saplings have been planted till March 2022 since its launch in 2019, she informed.
Since fruits are seasonal and also considering the gestation period, EA introduced inter-cropping (vegetables) as an alternative source of income during the gestation period or off-seasons.
With EA’s “buy-back policy”, the team has encouraged farmers to plant fruit trees as well as plant crops like Naga spicy ginger, tamarillo, perilla, potato, and many other crops, she added.
Village Council Chairman, Thipuzu, Zhoveyi Rose, informed that the members of the village have been undertaking fruit tree projects, particularly kiwi and persimmon for the past years. The idea was to encourage youngsters to work and earn their livelihood instead of wasting their time.
As their plantation expands, he said the village hopes to take the lead in supplying fruit tree saplings and even fruits to other parts of the district and beyond. He appreciated EA for introducing the trees for wealth project into the village and encouraged youngsters to take the project forward.
Branch Manager Pfutsero Cukhoyi informed that Thipuzu is the first village in the Chokri area to be activated for the TfW project. He further informed that Entrepreneur Associates will provide poly bags (free) to the registered farmers and later on, EA will buy fruits and saplings from the farmers. Over 6500 people across the state are currently engaged in the TfW project.
Saying that Nagas have the habit of wanting instant results from what has been sown, he encouraged farmers to have patience as fruit trees take years to bear fruits.
During the meeting, villagers also raised their doubts and queries with regard to the Trees for Wealth project.