Chizokho Vero
October 5
Kohima(MExn): Although agriculture is the main occupation of the people of Nagaland, it has failed to net the desired commercial production due to lack of machinery and technological support.
But all this may change, thanks to the Agro Service Centre. A first of its kind in Nagaland, the centre was dedicated here today. The centre is funded by the Chief Minister’s Corpus Fund (CMCF) and the Nagaland State Co-operative Bank Limited (NSCB Ltd).
The State’s agriculture department has put forward a proposal towards the establishment of similar centres at Phek, Mokokchung and Dimapur.
“The establishment of the Centre would go along way to benefit the farmers, “said Kohima Deputy Commissioner Zhaleo Rio while inaugurating the Centre.
The centre would not only provide gainful employment to Neisolie alone but also generate employment opportunities to many youth in the coming days.
Rio strongly viewed that farmers should go for the technology system of farming to enhance their production. He hoped that the centre would provide good services and become a model project for other regions as well.
In his speech, Agriculture Director Supong Kietzar stressed on the need to take up agricultural activities in a commercial scale by adopting the latest technologies.
Agriculture should be brought to the frontage and it should go in the right direction to sustain viable livelihood and food security. The idea behind the establishment of the Agro Service Centre is to provide training and capacity building to the farmers, to generate employment to unemployed youth, to provide consultant service on the agriculture related activities, to brief the farmers about the use of the various machines and equipment, Keitzar said.
District Agriculture Officer, Helie Rupreo said all types of agriculture inputs would be made available in this centre. He hoped that the Centre would help encourage the farmers to engage themselves in commercial production.
A beneficiary- Neisolie Rutsa, an agriculture graduate, said the Centre would make available all types of requirements like machinery, tools, chemicals, fertilizers, land project equipment, etc.
The project cost touched Rs.10 lakh with 75 per cent from CMCF and another 25 per cent from NSCB Ltd. So far, Rutsa has spent Rs 3 lakh for the project.
Rutsa is all set to extend free consultancy to farmers and to undertake the repair works including imparting the usage of power tillers and tractors to the farmers.
Saying that the NSCB Ltd had also been giving due importance on the agriculture sector with annual allocations of Rs. 50 to Rs. 60 lakh in the State, Kohima chief Branch Manager, Imtilemba Longkumer was optimistic that the farming system would see a lot of changes through Agro Service Centre. It would bring the latest inputs to the doorstep of the farmers, he added.
The Centre is located at Ziekezou , Near Don Bosco School, Kohima Village.
Earlier, the Angami Farmers’ Association President delivered the welcome address while Meguo-o Mechullho, Chairman, P Khel Council tendered the vote of thanks.
