Officers of FOCUS- Nagaland and senior officers of Agriculture Department led by APC, Y. Kikheto Sema, IAS held a meeting with the visiting team of eight member Consultants from International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), UN agency for the Mid Terminal Review (MTR) of the project at de Oriental Grand, Kohima on 15th November, 2021.

Through a press release, it stated that the APC and MD welcomed and exhorted the visiting team on the sustainability of Jhum and the efforts of the project towards improving it. He stressed on the challenges the project has faced throughout the implementation with special reference during the Covid pandemic. He hopes that the project can benefit substantially through the visit of MTR team. The Joint Secretary & SPD, S. Tainiu highlighted the overview of the project, the progress and prevailing issues. The meeting was also attended by the counterpart FOCUS project Mizoram of four team members from agri. and allied department as a part of exchange field programme.

The FOCUS Nagaland project is being implemented in eight (8) districts of the State viz., Kohima, Wokha, Mokokchung, Zunheboto, Mon, Longleng, Phek and Kiphire, covering 645 villages. The MTR Consultants lead by Mission Team Leader Mr. Anton Glaser is visiting the project sites at Kohima, Wokha, Phek, Zunheboto, Mokokchung and Longleng from 16th to 18th November, 2021 to evaluate the project activities in the field. The Country Director IFAD UN for Asia and Pacific Division, Han Ulac Demirag is also expected to arrive on 17th November, 2021 to interact with the senior officials of the State and to visit the field and interact with the community during his stay.

                                                                                    (DIPR)