Our Correspondent
Kohima, May 28 (EMN): To tide over the agricultural loss due to lockdown following the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic compounded by pest infestation in several parts of the state, BJP Nagaland state unit distributed Kharif crop seeds to the farmers during a programme held at its office in Kohima on May 28.
Speaking at the programme, the state party president Temjen Imna Along, who is also the minister of Higher and Technical Education, bemoaned the meagre contribution from the agriculture sector in the state. He stated that pigs and chickens, which people of the state like to eat everyday, were mostly imported from other states. He went on to state that Nagas have to depend on the neighbouring states even for chillies despite being blessed with abundant natural resources and favourable climatic condition.
Raising alarms on the urgency for people to go back to the land for sustainability, Along warned that “it is not far away when the people of Nagaland shall too be affected in a very drastic manner.”
He said that Nagaland can only be developed into a strong state only if the people are self-sufficient. In this regard, he called upon the people to make the state a prosperous one by working hard and not indulge too much in politics.
He also requested all the young men and women of the state to get back to farming and make the state self-reliant.
“If we want to eat pork and chicken, let us raise our own. Let us grow our own vegetables and be self-sufficient. Nothing is impossible with hard work,” Along said.
Along also advised the gathering not to panic on rumours but put their trust in God to overcome every circumstance. He asserted that the launching of Kharif crop seeds distribution was not only a symbolic distribution but a virtue to fight the Covid-19.
“If we look at our state today, it seems we are fighting less with the pandemic disease but we are fighting more among ourselves, and the side effects of this pandemic has become the main affects,” he shared. He added that the attempt of BJP was not to take credit in solving any problem but rather encourage at reviving traditional farming.
“We are not trying to threaten our people but we are putting forward very assertively the future of our state to be self-reliant, self-sufficient and also to provide to others,” Along said. He also appealed to all the citizens to take up sustainable entrepreneurship with zeal, consistency and persistent endeavour.
He further appealed to the office bearers to go to places where they can start farms and kitchen garden and sow seeds so that one day they would be thankful for what they have started.
State BJP vice-president Namdaw Hurui Zeliang stated that it was the first of its kind in the history initiated by Along to distribute seeds in all the districts. He encouraged the people to utilise the seeds and not put it to waste.
Stating that the present pandemic is a threat to food security, Zeliang asked the district in-charge to educate the farmers on when to sow the seeds.
“We do not know what will happen tomorrow, but we should stand together to fight the Covid-19,” Zeliang said and advised the people to emphasise on promoting crops and make the state self-sufficient.
While admitting that Covid-19 has affected all sections of the people, the party chief spokesperson, Kuputo Shohe, stated that “it is the lower strata that has been affected most.” He added that taking into consideration the plight of the poor and needy, the party has decided to skip meals for 14-day starting from June 1 to the 14th.
The BJP appealed to all the leaders and abled citizens to give up one-day meal and give it to someone in need to commemorate NaMo 2.0 government, which would culminate on May 30.
Senkathung Jami, state BJP kisan president, also expressed his appreciation to the party for launching Kharif crop seeds distribution programme.