Dimapur, Oct. 9 (EMN): Nagaland State Rural Livelihood Mission (NSRLM) monitoring and support team led by the chief operating officer (COO), Rollan Lotha and accompanied by ADPM Mokokchung, Moatoshi; BPM Ongpangkong South, Imkongtoshi; and block staff visited Kubolong and Ongpangkong South Block in Mokokchung district.
An update from NSRLM stated that team visited Mopungchuket village under RD block Kubolong on October 3 and five villages of Longkhum, Mangmetong, Aliba and Khensa under RD block Ongpangkong South on October 6.
It stated that the team inspected the Shitaki mushroom cultivation, which is taken up as an income generating activity by the NSRLM supported self help groups (SHG) within the block. It mentioned that Shitake cultivation is at a nascent stage for mass production and consumption with huge market potential at both domestic and international markets.
Interacting with the SHG members, Rollan encouraged them to form a producers group and to maintain consistency in its production.
Motivating the SHG members, Rollan urged upon them to think beyond subsidies stating that Naga people’s dependence and expectations of such grants are crippling their very own environment for healthy growth of activities and businesses they take up.
Acknowledging the sincerity of the block staff, he further encouraged the livelihoods staff to strengthen on documentation of all the livelihoods activities taken up by the SHG and form producers groups to achieve local self-sufficiency. He further stressed on continuity of hand holding support and nurturing of the SHG.
The team also visited weaving unit, poultry unit, tailoring unit and a tea stall business which were activities taken up by SHG members after availing community investment fund (CIF) loans from the village level organisation (VLO) of their respective villages.