Northeast region special focus of Central government— Hukhato Sema

Dimapur, April 19 (EMN): District Agriculture Officer, Zunheboto Hukhato Sema on Monday shared that the north-eastern part of India was privileged to have rich and fertile virgin forests thereby allowing the Central government to give ‘special focus’ in the region.

He stated this during a programme held for the induction of a new team of board of directors for Farmers’ Producer Organisation (FPO) at DAO conference hall in Zunheboto.

He said that mission organic value chain development (MOVCD) was a central scheme aimed at helping the farmers to produce more organic and healthy products for themselves and also to produce enough to reach others with the surplus. The FPO acts as a bridging device to communicate with other states of the mainland India and even further, he said.

Sema also congratulated the new team and expressed optimism of the successes they would yield by working with sincerity for the betterment of the farmers and in general.

Newly inducted chairman L Holuto Ayemi deliberated that the Indian government, realising the potential of organic farming in the northeastern region of the country, launched a central sector scheme entitled "MOVCD for northeastern region" with an aim to develop certified organic production in a value chain mode to link growers with consumers and to support the development of the entire value chain starting from inputs, seeds, certification, to the creation of facilities for collection, aggregation, processing, marketing and brand building initiative.

He also said that till date, of the 14 clusters, a total of 1100 farmers had registered under the organisation and FPO has been registered to the co-operative society which now ensures the farmers as an individual or the organisation of various possible aids.

 He also spoke about the main aims of the organisation which was to link producers to consumers and to work on developing infrastructures for post harvest management and other necessities of the farmers. He also appealed the government to continue to reach the organisation with all possible means to work for prosperity of all farmers and also keeping in mind the needs of organic products, which benefits and affects all consumers.

Agriculture Inspector K Kikato Zhimomi spoke on the main reason behind the scheme, which was to counter the health threats being caused because of the consumption of non-organic products in the country.

The new team will be headed by L Holuto Ayemi as its chairman. Other office bearers are Aheto Sumi as vice chairman, Gideon S Yeptho as secretary, finance committee headed by Kughavi Yeptho as treasurer and Vihuto, Lashika T Sumi and Shitokhu Achumi as members. Marketing committee members include H Hokuto Sema, Hekato Yeptho and Y Husukha Sema; and Nivili Chella, Helena, H Vitoyi, Kahoto Achumi and Hukavi Shohe as members.