Taste of Noklak Society (TONS), a society formed by Noklak farmers and SP Noklak, launched 15 products like Mithun meat pickles, Michinga, neem and lemon soaps, aloe vera and neem gels, tulsi products, lotions, Michinga (xanthozylum) extract, large cardamom extract, kiwi candies, mango juice, pineapple juice, perilla seeds candy, wild apple juice, ginger extract, shampoos and other herbal products at Noklak in presence of DC Noklak, SP Noklak, KVK Tuensang, Noklak NGOs, Dr. Jongkoi Medical Department and TONS on Thursday, 4 November 2021.
The programme was chaired by member of TONS, Cham. Member of TONS Sungmo gave the welcome note and testimony while origin and works of the society was delivered by Chairperson TONS, M. Mongshai.
She stated that it was SP Noklak Dr. Pritpal Kaur, IPS who started the society by giving them the name of Taste of Noklak society to help the women, students and entrepreneurs and helped in encouraging and getting training at Dimapur CIH Medziphema and KVK Tuensang under Dr. Sisharenla. Thereafter, they received training from Dharambir Kamboj, President of India Awardee.
She thanked SP Noklak for providing multipurpose food processing machine which is helping them in making herbal products. She stated that they started as a 13-member team from different villages by making products on home scale basis. As their products gained popularity, they started proper packaging, labeling, food testing, branding and marketing. She added that they are aiming to increase their production and to represent at the Hornbill Festival also.
Farm management was explained by Yanger Kichu from KVK Tuensang who emphasized on contour farming and scientific management of farms. Agronomy was explained by Tokiho, ACTO Agronomy KVK Tuensang. He emphasised on learning the sustainability in production, marketing, proper labeling and promotion of the products.
Superintendent of Police Noklak, Dr. Pritpal Kaur, IPS in her speech congratulated everyone on the successful step ahead of value addition and emphasised that each group should keep on teaching all these methodologies to groups of other villages as master trainer. Like TONS gave training Kingniu Village and Pangsha Village SHG, now Pangsha Village SHG should give training to next village group and hence to have 'Chain of Livelihood' as their aim, she encouraged. She asked the youth and dropout students indulging in bad habits to choose path of hard work Dr Kaur also explained about legal procedures, medical clearance for products, biodiversity management, geotagging and geographical indicators purpose.
Deputy Commissioner Noklak, Hiazu Meru lit the candle of hope and success at the programme and congratulated everyone present for the successful production. He stated that farming is one of the emerging sectors where educated youth can make a good career. He explained the concept of division of labour where farmers on one end and value addition by SHGs on another end should be working as teams.
Meru stated importance of making the value addition products because far flung villages suffer many times as perishable items gets wasted sometimes because of lack of markets and transportation problems. He urged the gathering to understand the importance of FSSAI license number, and other requirements before getting products in market.
Longmayanger KVK explained about the apps of agriculture which can be used by the farmers. TONS along with Noklak FPO are going to represent at CIH Medziphema on 11 November 2021 at Horticulture Expo and then at Delhi exhibition with the help of CIH Medziphema, Dimapur.
(APRO Noklak)