Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC), Nagaland, Y. Kikheto Sema IAS on 9th March 2022 attended the 13th Bio-Diversity Festival as the guest of honor organized by the North East Network (NEN) at NEN Resource Centre, Chizami, Phek on the theme “Embracing biodiversity for well being”.
He was accompanied by Additional Secretary, Agriculture Department, Sachin Jaiswal, IAS, and a host of officers from Agri and Allied departments including some intern students from NU: SARSD, Medziphema. The program was also attended by various civil society organizations including public leaders of the Phek district.
Sema appreciated the efforts of the North East Network (NEN) for the initiatives to protect and preserve our two most vital resources: nature and people. The collective impact of the NGOs has certainly led to a better understanding of biodiversity and preservation of natural resources in the northeastern states, he added.
The APC remarked that during his recent visit to Noklak, he was impressed by their footprints in the District, motivating and encouraging womenfolk to preserve the seeds and multiply serving as the best seed-keepers. He further urged their organization to promote activities that preserve and protect indigenous plant resources and to promote nutri-cereals like millets, jobs tears, and pulses like soya bean which have huge international markets. He informed that the year 2023 will be declared “Year of millets” and proposed applying for a G.I tag for indigenous food products like ‘Axone”, “Anishe” and fine dried bamboo shoots.
Sema further commented that the North-Eastern states have been able to retain a significant proportion of their biodiversity, possibly due to long years of isolation and the difficult terrain, but it is now under increasing pressure to unleash its resources for economic development. He said that any development process that fails to put in place environmental safeguards may cause irreversible damage to the region.
He stated that in Nagaland, there is increasing pressure on the forests for commercial exploitation to augment the income of the rural population, resulting in degradation of the forest resources and biodiversity. He added that Jhum cultivation, practiced by 73 % of the total cultivation, is one of the reasons cited for the forest degradation and urged on the need for sustainable restoration and rejuvenation of Jhum area for restoration of forests and conservation of biodiversity in the state.
He appreciated the people of Phek district for their hard work towards economic sustainability such as banning of import of pigs. He further informed about the improvement in the road conditions of the State and thanked the Government for such improvement which will facilitate easy transfer of agriculture products across the State thereby improving marketing within the State.
Sema proposed a proper road map for the State as well for each district and community even involving Agri and Allied Departments for proper demarcation of conservation and cultivation areas for balanced maintenance of biodiversity and combating climate change. He strongly advocated for the preservation of the topmost portion of the forest mountains to be kept as catchment areas and encouraged them to use local seeds instead of commercialized seeds.
Sema also appealed to various NGOs, FPOs, and FIGs to forgo applying for only Government subsidies and Grants and informed that a new Scheme called the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) is in the pipeline focusing on Post Harvest Infrastructure where GoI will provide interest subvention loan through NABARD and Bank. He also said that there was a virtual meeting the day before with the Prime minister and Finance Minister where they focused on creating post-harvest infrastructure.
While appreciating the womenfolk, he remarked that Naga women play a very important role in farming, from planting to the selling of the produce in the markets, thereby transforming the socio-economy of the rural people. He also stressed the importance of the role of women in the transformation of society, changing the mindset concerning ecological issues, and also improving the economy of the family.
He further informed about the Organic AC Market at Dimapur, an initiative of the Minister of Agriculture, G. Kaito Aye which has sold 330 MT by buying surplus produce from various parts of the State by NSAMB and added that the largest consignment was from Phek District.
Tamara Law Goswami delivered the keynote address where she highlighted how the human relationship with the environment is broken. She said the Pandemic has revealed how fragile human health is and women are the first to be impacted. She expressed gratitude to all the stakeholders, especially for the overwhelming response from the Government led by APC and Agri and Allied Departments and the local Farmers from all over Nagaland for attending this event.
The main highlight of the program was the Heritage Seed Exchange which took place between women farmers of different villages from Nagaland.
The program was followed by an interactive session with the stakeholders where the APC briefed the participants that the Government of Nagaland will support the initiatives of preservation and promotion of traditional seeds by helping to buy the products and also requested the stakeholders to explore and facilitate the activity of skill and knowledge exchange with regards to best practices and improved techniques. He mentioned an instance where the farmers of ENPO areas were keen to share their knowledge of kholar cultivation.
(DIPR)
