Our Correspondent
KOHIMA, MARCH 22
To encourage higher level of participation from farmers, and in recognition of their sincere and dedicated efforts towards successfully carrying out various development activities under the Land Resources department under Kohima district, an awards ceremony was held Tuesday morning at the Ura Academy in Kohima. Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu, chairman of the DAN was the chief guest of the event.
Nchyuga Tep is a 56 years old man from Henbenji village has been adjudged the ‘Best Farmer of the year 2015’ under the IWMP. A daily wage-earner with 9 children, Nchyuga started growing cardamom in the year 2012 under the initiative of the department. It is learnt that although his farm is not large in industrial terms, the hard working man does not depend on the government subsidies alone, and he is reaping a good benefit.
N Tep currently has about 500 standing cardamom plants from which he harvested 86 kilograms this year. He sold them off at the rate of Rs 1, 200 during the current year. He also plans to expand his farm with additional 4000-5000 rhizomes.Recipient of the ‘SHG of the year 2015’, Khekhrie SHG of Sechüma village is a promising group comprising of 10 members from the same economic background has through their activities, impacted not only their own lives but of their locality as well. With a seed money of Rs 10, 000 received from the department, the group has, initially took up income generating activities like kitchen gardening, pickle making and the wages and weekly marketing of their products are carried out for sustaining the economy of each member, and thereby improve the living standards of each member.
The women group has a target to increase their quarterly income from Rs 20, 000-25,000 to 40-50,000. They also plan to purchase a plot of land, render charity services to the needy and also contribute towards uplift of the womenfolk in the village.
The ‘Micro-Watershed of the year 2015’ was awarded to Thekrejuma village, a small village under Zubza-block is endowed with rich forest and rare biodiversity. The watershed area lies at Vüshürükou with a total area of 324 Ha, out of which 300 Ha were taken for treatment. So far 4 water harvesting structures, 3.2 Ha of bench Terrace, 2 Ha of contour trench, 2 Ha of half moon terrace, 2 nos of check dams, 5 Ha of horticulture, 4 Ha of plantation crops have been taken up, besides many other activities.
Dr Menuosietuo Tseikha, DPO, Kohima in his keynote address said the department has started this project particularly for the farmers of Kohima district in order to lift the economic status of the farmers, which is found to be very low as compared with other districts of the state.
Giving a brief highlight on the great scope of agriculture towards improving one’s economy, he sought the cooperation and support of all farmers to the department for any kinds of projects that it has been undertaking to bring about changes in the lives of the rural people.
Terming the programme as a new concept, Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu congratulated the team for organising the programme in recognition of the farmers’ achievement.
Emphasizing on the importance of the natural resources that God has endowed to the people, Dr Liezietsu asserted that one must wisely and judiciously utilise those resources in order to live a better life. However, he said ‘if those resources given to us serve no purpose to us, then we have lost insight of the good things’.
Dr Liezietsu also remarked that in this fast changing world the need to accumulate more money has the tendency to make a person to loss his good judgement about life and things. Therefore, he stressed that though money is en essential part of our lives, one need to earn money through hard work and own sweat.
He also appreciated the department and the farmers for their sincere efforts and dedication towards sustenance of livelihood as well as restoring the ecological balance and restoration of our degraded natural resources.
Dr Liezietsu also gave away the certificates and cash awards to the winners, and release the magazine of the department.
In a short speech, Mhathung Yanthan, director of Land Resource has encouraged the farmers to do better and to be role models for other farmers in other parts of the state, and urged them continue to plan for bigger things in the coming days.
Highlighting on the various projects being undertaken by the department, he said the department is just a facilitator and that people need to create an impact on whatever programme and projects are made available to them. He has also called upon all to give its best towards bringing positive changes in all spheres of our lives with utmost sincerity, clear vision and commitment.
