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Dimapur, Dec. 6 (EMN): Fostering Climate Resilient Upland Farming System in the North East (FOCUS), a project funded by International Fund for Agriculture Development in Nagaland (IFAD), held a two-day workshop on ‘Strengthening project interventions’ on December 5 and 6 at Capital Convention Hall, Kohima.
An update informed that the workshop was attended by officers and staff from the eight implementing project districts and staff from State Project Management Unit (SPMU), to improve the project’s deliverance of services.
In the closing session, Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC) and MD of FOCUS Nagaland, Y Kikheto Sema, encouraged all the staff to perform diligently in the jobs they are assigned with.
The APC pointed out on the importance of external funds and projects coming into the state, stating that after 56 years of statehood, IFAD-funded FOCUS project is the first external aided project implemented under Agri and allied departments.
Sema said the project, in its course of operation, has faced numerous challenges with its wide area coverage of 645 villages, with limited human resource. However, despite all the challenges, the project has achieved tangible impacts in the rural farming communities, he said.
He thanked all the pioneers who were involved right from the beginning in the design and inception of the project for a smart climate-resilient upland farming system. He also lauded the all Agriculture and allied departments for giving the best effort and also for attaching their best officers to be in the project as project implementing team.
The APC urged all team members to make the best use of the remaining project period as there is hardly 15 months for the project to wind up.
Sema also appealed to all contractual staff to continue rendering their best for the 1433 employment opportunities that IFAD-FOCUS has created at PMU & DMU including community animal healthcare workers (CAHW) and lead farmers engaged as last-mile delivery of the project.
He further appreciated the district team focus IFAD for presenting and sharing field experiences. In the last year of the project cycle, he urged everyone to walk the extra mile and leave a legacy behind.