Dr Abhilaksh Likhi (IAS), Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, GoI during the visit to Pineapple farm under FPC Molsang on February 17.
Dimapur, February 17 (MExN): Inorder to disseminate information and discuss issues and challenges faced in formation of Farmer Producers Organisation (FPO), an interactive physical and virtual review meeting was held at CIH, Medziphema under the chairmanship of Dr Abhilaksh Likhi (IAS), Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, GoI on February 17.
The meeting was held with the Mission Directors of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Dr NK Patle, Additional Commissioner (Horticulture), DAC&FW & Director I/c CIH, officials from NCCT, Imphal; NAFED, Guwahati, Superintendent of Police, Noklak. Other stakeholders on the implementation of Central Sector Scheme for formation of FPOs in North East Region were also part of the meeting.
Review was done on the progress of the formation of the FPOs by the implementing agencies like NERAMAC, NABARD, NCDC and SFAC in North East Region, stated a press release issued by CIH Medziphema.
The Additional Secretary apprised all to continue working in close coordination in spite of the geography andtopography differences of all stakeholders inorder to achieve the target of forming 10,000 new FPOs under the central sector scheme for formation and promotion of new FPOs.
During the meeting, Dr Abhilaksh launched the brand ‘Noklak Honey’ produced by Agro-Revolution Society, Noklak and promoted by CIH, Medziphema.
As a part of the meeting, the Additional Secretary along with others visited Farmer Producer Company (FPC) Molsang formed by the farmers of Molvom and Bungsang villages and interacted with the FPC members on its activities. He encouraged and apprised the FPC members to strengthen the company through various capacity building and training programmes provided through BIRD, Lucknow & LINAC Gurugram Institutes under the Scheme.
The Additional Secretary visited the off-farm demonstration of CIH on cultivation of Onion var. Red TL and vegetable kitchen garden at Punglwa B village maintained by women SHG under technical guidance of CIH. He also visited the weekly haat at Punglwa village and interacted with the buyers and sellers of vegetables and spices.
Reviews activities of CIH
Earlier on February 16, the Additional Secretary visited CIH, Nagaland to review activities of the institute.
During the visit, he inspected nursery unit, processing unit, and floriculture unit under protected cultivation, fruit mother blocks and various units of the institute and also interacted with the technical staff of CIH.
The Additional Secretary took keen interest about the activities as per the mandates of the institute and reviewed the achievements of the institute during the past years. He was delighted to see the remarkable achievements of CIH and highly appreciated the efforts of the staff for their zeal and dedication towards their work in spite of working under difficult conditions.
CIH continuously provides capacity building programmes like skill development trainings and certificate courses for rural youth to support the farmers for income generation. As a part of such a programme, Dr Abhilaksh interacted with a group of young trainees from Noklak district who were undertaking skill development training on gardener.
