Kohima, Dec. 1 (EMN): Marking the culmination of 2019 as ‘Year of tree plantation,’ Zapami Village Council (ZVC) and Village Development Board (VDB) organised an award ceremony on November 28 with Dr. R Imtionen Ao, SDAO Pfutsero, as the guest speaker at Zapami village in Phek district.
The competitions were conducted in three categories in the current year which included clan-wise tree plantations, colony-wise beautification and individual cash crop plantation, an update from Zapami VDB secretary Kedoutsolhi Wetsah stated.
In the clan-wise tree plantation, Lonunumi secured the first prize followed by Putanumi and Lebupfunumi as first and second runners-up. Altogether, the village planted 23,000 trees as per the verification made by the jury board members.
In an individual cash crop plantation competition, Mherhuwe Kenye, who planted 1210 large cardamom in 2019, was secured the first prize followed by Kewekha Kenye and Kezungulo Wetsah in the second and third positions respectively.
In the village colony-wise floriculture and colony beautification competition, Kethoku colony secured the first position out of four colonies. The village council gave away a total cash award of INR 50,000 with citations for the three categories of competitions.
In the current year, focus was given in planting indigenous trees and cash crops such as kiwi, persimmon, water plum and large cardamom.
Speaking at the programme, Dr. Imtionen appreciated Zapami village for taking up noble initiative at the village-level by organising tree plantation competition on khel-wise basis and acknowledged that it was first of a kind at the village-level. Also citing on the global warming issues, he stated each individual has a role to play by planting trees and preserving the nature.
He also reminded the villagers that there is huge scope to develop eco-tourism in the area if local people could make effort to preserve the rich bio-diversity.
President of Chakhesang Public Organisation (CPO), Mikha Kenye, while exhorting the gathering, appreciated the village council for the noble initiative and urged to remain consistent in their efforts towards conserving bio-diversity within their its jurisdiction.
Kenye also said that tree plantation and nurturing them through community initiative could bring about solutions on global warming concerns.
