Dimapur, Aug. 10 (EMN): For successful implementation of Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana (PMDVY) scheme, YouthNet was conferred with three awards during the first Van Dhan Annual Awards ceremony 2020-21 held at the 34th foundation day of Trifed, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, on August 6.
The three awards included ‘Scale of diversified operations at VDVKC,’ ‘Maximum range of value-added items produced and marketed,’ ‘Best innovation and most creative marketing idea.’ The awards were presented by the regional manager of NE, Trifed through a zoom webinar, stated an update from YouthNet.
It mentioned that YouthNet, in association with Nagaland State Co-operative Marketing and Consumers Federation Ltd. (Marcofed) and department of Forest, Environment and Climate Change, government of Nagaland, launched Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVK) in Tuophema Botsa blocks under Kohima district. Under the scheme, tribal community owned MFP-centric multi-purpose Van Dhan Vikas Kendras was set up in Tuophema Botsa blocks where 15 SHGs/ SAMUH comprising of 300 members were trained under the mechanism for marketing of minor forest produce (MFP) through minimum support price (MSP) and development of value chain.
The scheme was implemented by YouthNet with ‘Made in Nagaland’ (MIN) based in Kohima as a common facility centre for procurement and value addition. VDVK is a component of the mechanism for marketing of minor forest produce (MFP) through minimum support price (MSP) and development of value chain for MFP scheme which is a Van Dhan tribal start-ups programme for value addition, branding and marketing of MFP by establishing VDVKs to provide employment for tribal populations and increase in their income, YouthNet stated.
It mentioned that YouthNet VDVKC, since its inception, has produced and marketed a wide array of value-added products ranging from gooseberry, rosella, tsumoh, oranges and honey. Those products have been processed and packaged by SHG members of the VDVKC.
To increase the income of VDVK, initiatives have been taken to diversify the production items for capturing more markets by including MFPs, agri based items, horti-based items, medicinal plants, floriculture and others as the scheme offers huge potential of creating livelihood opportunities for the tribal beneficiaries and to ensure that such enterprises run sustainably year-round.