Dimapur, Feb. 8 (EMN): Nagaland Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC), Y Kikheto Sema, inaugurated a zero energy cold storage (ZES) unit with 30 ton capacity in Tuensang on Tuesday.
The ZES, initiated by Eleutheros Christian Society (ECS) under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Chingmak Kejong and funded by NABARD and the Tata Trust, is a technology which could be the solution for rural Nagaland, stated an update from the Soil and Water Conservation department. It informed that the ZES does not require electricity and yet the room temperature is almost 10 degrees lesser when compared to the outside temperature.
Chongshen, ECS official, made a short presentation on the activities of the ECS in the agriculture and livelihood development and shared the impact on socio-economic conditions of the people in the district through its intervention. He stated that ECS has started working with farming community in a small way in Zunheboto and Mokokchung districts and was looking forward to expand in the future.
Speaking at the inaugural function, Kikheto thanked the ECS especially Rev. Dr. Chingmak Kejong and his wife for working towards the socio economic uplift of the people of Nagaland and the people of Tuensang in particular. He observed that the zero energy storage unit would be useful for the farming community in the state because the power supply of the state is not going to meet the demand in many years to come.
He has assured to recommend the technology and see to it that the central government recognises the innovative and initiatives of ZES within the funding design and even collaborate in the future. At the same time, he encouraged the ECS to venture out to other districts as well so that the farming communities of the other districts are benefitted.
On the occasion, Kikheto informed that the state government is working towards holistic development in the field of agriculture adding that facilities such as soil testing laboratories, block level soil testing laboratories, bio-fertiliser production units and meteorological observatories in all the districts are already installed. He also informed that the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), in collaboration with the state government, has started installing agromet automatic weather stations (AWS) in a phased manner in all the districts.
He added that the state government has set up an organic air conditioned market in Dimapur to help the farmers sale their products.
During the interaction session, issue regarding transportation of the agriculture product to the markets in Kohima and Dimapur was discussed. In this regard, the members have suggested ulitising the truck services of Police department and Food Cooperation of India (FCI) in the transportation of essential commodities to the district, which often returned empty.
In response to the suggestion, the APC assured to take up the matter with the concerned departments and work out modalities to facilitate movement of farmer products to the markets. While pointing out that over INR 60 crore was spent annually in ration for the police personnel throughout the state which are imported from outside, Kikheto has mooted procuring essential commodities within the state to encourage the farmers and also boost their economy.
Earlier, Rev. Hankiu, pastor of Yimkhiungru Baptist Church, Saksi NAP sector, said the invocation, while the benediction was said by Rev. Dr. Chingmak Kejong, ECS secretary.
In a separate programme, Kikheto inaugurated a newly constructed office building of district agriculture officer (DAO) in Tuensang on February 8.
Stating that the state government had invested huge money for construction of its directorate building and district offices out of state plan as well as loan from Hudco in the last 20 years, he encouraged the district officers to not just sit idle in the office but go out in the field and work with sincerity for people’s welfare.
While citing the importance of agriculture for the uplift of farmers, he emphasised on the need for the agri and allied and departments to work in coordination and bring about a visible change for the people of the district. Also stating that their performances would be counted on the basis of their field visits, he has sought innovations to bring about sustainability to the farming communities.
He further congratulated the contractor for completing the work within the timeframe.
B Nyenghong Phom, additional director of Agriculture, thanked the engineer, contractor and all officers involved in the construction of the office building and hoped that the office would be used properly for the service of the people. He also requested the people of the district to take care of the building as their own property.
Achakbou Newmai, superintendent engineer of Agriculture, gave a brief technical report of the project. He informed that the office is a double storey building with six rooms at the ground floor with reception hall and seven rooms on the first floor having total area of 2141 square feet in each floor. The construction works was completed in three years time, he informed.
The inaugural programme was chaired by K Showuba Yimkhiung, DAO of Tuensang, while the dedicatory prayer was said by L Ongmang, pastor of Yungkük Baptist Church, and vote of thanks was pronounced by Wongto Chingmak, SDAO of Tuensang.