As per the order of Chief Secretary Nagaland, a team headed by Agriculture Production Commissioner Y. Kikheto Sema started the tour at Dimapur today 13th July 2020 for monitoring and inspection of NEC funded projects and called for accountability and transparency in all the NEC projects.

The team visited development of Eri culture for sustainable livelihood at Seithekhima, New Shouba, Ao Imti and Khehokhu villages.

Interacting with the villagers, Kikheto dwelt on the benefits of eri culture, stating that it has huge demand in the market even within the villages itself as eri serves as a sugar free healthy food. He observed that eri culture gives turn over within a year unlike other plants where one has to wait for several years to get the benefits. He further opined that it was not so difficult to rear eri and added, “if you feed well it grows well”. With so much of advantage, Sema emphasised on the need for creating more awareness in the villages so that eri rearing could be taken up in a cluster approach. Sema also advised and encouraged the eri farmers for using judiciously, the assistance rendered by the Government either in cash or kind. Sema noted that he was very encouraged to see many women eri farmers.

Expressing concern about the huge number of Returnees due to COVID 19 pandemic, Kikheto said that with more than 15000 Returnees in the category of working class not likely to return back, he encouraged the Sericulture department for imparting training/ awareness on Sericulture farming. “This is one area where Department has to focus for providing livelihood/ employment to the young people,” he maintained and further expressed that rearing eri would be one of the best option.

The team also visited the Abiogenes center for performing Art and Culture at Dimapur, District Transport office Dimapur and Multi media cum convention Center Dimapur under IPR department. Commissioner & Secretary, Maria Yanthan was also present in the project site of IPR during the team's visit.

Y. Kikheto was accompanied by CE, Water Resources, Additional Director IPR, Tokishe Sema, Engineer Planning department Kiyheto, Secretary, Director and officers from Sericulture department besides others.

The team will be leaving for Jalukie on 14th July for inspection of Botanical garden cum Recreation Park. On. 15th July, the team would proceed to Phenshunyu village for inspection of Integrated Ney valley irrigation project.

(DPRO Dimapur)