DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 22: Dismissing popular notion that it was hard for entrepreneurs to create a niche for themselves especially with one’s own innovations, a 28 year old Naga lad Katoho S Achumi has overcome the hurdles and found himself a place amongst 30 entrepreneurs across the country with the Arise Launch Pad for entrepreneurs conducted by Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) for his project ‘Pine Resin Extraction’ based on Pine Resin industry in Nagaland with a deal of Rs 6.5 crore. This was announced by Kathi Chishi, Managing Director and Nodal Training Officer of North East Naga Traders Private Limited, to media persons on September 22 at its office premises in Dimapur.
Announcing this feat of Katoho, who is presently undergoing training in Delhi, Chishi said Katoho is the youngest achiever of Arise Launch Pad, a B.Sc (Forestry) student, who had been trained at North East Naga Traders Private Limited.
Through his achievement, Chishi remarked that the government should realise the activities being carried out by various private corporation even with limited resources available.
“There are many amenities available with the government which are hardly utilised. If the government can at least facilitate those amenities to enthusiastic entrepreneurs, it can benefit the entrepreneurs,” said Chishi. Stating that natural resources available in the northeast have not been utilised judicisouly, Chishi said Katoho worked on the pine resin extraction which can also educate the mass.
‘The idea of starting new businesses and creating new innovation seems to be far from the minds of people in Nagaland; however Katoho passed this hurdle by achieving a spot with the Arise Launch Pad and looking for investors,’ Chishi said.
Also dwelling on the hurdle faced by entrepreneurs in dealing with banks, Chishi remarked that banks in Nagaland do not facilitate entrepreneurs as most bankers do not trust the system.
He also announced that “The Green Business Challenge 2016” is scheduled on September 28 at Saramati Hotel, Dimapur. The Green Business Challenge is a joint initiative of Interchurch Organization for Development Cooperation (ICCO) and Innovative Change Collaborative Services Pvt. Limited (ICCSPL) with a mission to foster ‘Agripreneurs’ with innovative ideas to address the modern day agriculture challenges.
The challenge is open to all emerging agri based entrepreneurs, enterprises focusing on the eastern and North-eastern region of India. “The Green Business Challenge 2016” also envisaged challenging entrepreneurs and seek participation from students and entrepreneurs with business ideas on agri and agri allied sectors.
The Green Business Challenge 2016 is expected to receive 30 participants each from the seven sister’s states of Northeast with a chance to unleash agribusiness ideas into reality. Interested applicants can submit their proposals to greenbusinesschallenge.com, Chishi informed.
