‘Grain-for-Grain’ scheme launched in Nagaland       

DIMAPUR — The inaugural phase of the ‘Grain-for-Grain’ initiative in Nagaland was successfully launched on October 25, covering 123 households across five villages in Wokha and Zunheboto districts, on October 25.

In a press release, the Wildlife Division, Dimapur, stated that each family received one quintal of rice, symbolising not merely support for the extensive crop losses inflicted by elephant depredation, but also a gesture of solidarity and hope extended from the wider conservation fraternity.

The ‘Grain-for-Grain’ programme, an initiative of the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) supported by the ‘Fondation Segre,’ exemplifies a transformative philosophy of conservation, one that recognises that the well-being of people and the protection of wildlife are inextricably linked.

By addressing the economic hardships endured by farmers living at the interface of human and wildlife territories, the WTI supported by the ‘Fondation Segre’ has demonstrated that conservation transcends the safeguarding of species and habitats, the wildlife division stated.

According to the division, the initiative is equally about empowering and uplifting the communities that coexist with them.

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“This timely and empathetic intervention has provided both sustenance and moral reassurance to families whose livelihoods have been severely disrupted.

“The initiative stands as a shining exemplar of how empathy, when allied with purpose and guided by sound conservation principles, can translate into tangible relief and enduring goodwill among those most affected by the complexities of coexistence with wildlife,” it stated.

The division acknowledged the significance of such ground-level intervention, especially in regions like Nagaland where elephant movement often overlaps with human settlements and agricultural zones.

It also extended appreciation to Vivek Menon, Founder Trustee and Executive Director of the WTI and his team, for the generous extension of the ‘Grain for Grain’ initiative to Nagaland.

“Their commitment and seamless collaboration with the division were instrumental in ensuring the successful and efficient implementation of the programme on the ground.

“Together, we remain steadfast in our collective mission to foster a future of harmonious coexistence, one in which both people and wildlife not only endure, but thrive, in shared resilience and respect,” it stated.

According to the division, this vital humanitarian-conservation scheme has brought much-needed relief to farmers affected by human-elephant conflict (HEC), marking a significant step towards integrating community welfare with conservation efforts in Nagaland.

The division stated that as Nagaland continues to navigate the delicate balance between human prosperity and wildlife protection, it looked forward to further strengthening its partnership with the Wildlife Trust of India.

Further, it emphasised that awareness, though vital, has to be accompanied by sustained, practical interventions, particularly in regions where livelihoods and wildlife habitats overlap.