Entrepreneurs Associates CEO Neichute Doulo. (File Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | January 24
Entrepreneurs Associates (EA) from Nagaland has been selected as one of the 100 top NGOs selected as grantees for the EdelGive Foundation’s GROW fund in India.
“The audacious program of Entrepreneurs Associates (EA) to plant 2 million fruit trees by 2025, 200 million by 2035 and 1 billion by 2050 in the north eastern region of India will combat climate change and trigger Rs 1 trillion economy generating 3 million jobs in the region. We are so excited to get the support of Grow Fund in our initial years. This is a big push to unlock the audacious vision of EA,” EA CEO Neichute Doulo told The Morung Express.
This will combat climate change and create a cleaner environment. It will generate about 3 million jobs- 1 million jobs directly through micro orchards and nurseries, another 2 million jobs through allied industries of food processing, sales and logistics in the North East Region of India, he maintained.
Such an economic scale will affect Rs 1 trillion economy to the region, making NER an asset region to India and a region of opportunities for the youth, Doulo added.
Under the Tree for Wealth (TfW), EA wishes to integrate farming activities such as cultivating Potatoes, Naga spicy ginger, Naga native chilies, turmeric, perilla, sesame, etc so that a holistic scale of enhanced livelihood approaches take place. This will benefit the EA Farmers before the fruit trees generate income, Doulo said.
We plant some number of fruit trees, so that cash income can be generated from the fruit trees, he said adding the EA is encouraging farmers to plant fruit trees like Walnut, Chestnuts, Avocados, Naga Apples to plant in forest lands as it is, adding: they do thrive in the forest areas in wild condition.
We are encouraging farmers to plant Plums, apples, peach, pears and Persimmon, Tamarillo, Guava, mango, orange, Lime, etc. in their wood lands and backyard kitchen gardens as well. This way, each farmer planted 20 to 50 fruit trees in 2021, EA CEO said.
But since more than 4000 farmers planted fruit trees in Nagaland and Manipur states, EA managed to plant over 3.6 lakh of fruit trees in 2020 and 2021 despite the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.
Few farmers on their own planted over 1000 fruit trees.
TfW is based on EA’s two decades of learning collaborating with farmers for different projects.
GROW Fund
Mentionably, in a first-of-its-kind initiative, the GROW Fund will invest up to Rs 100 crore in two years to build capacity and support future readiness of 100 NGOs across the country
EA selected from Nagaland has been working in the area of livelihood and has been making an impact in the area of promoting entrepreneurship and developing sustainable livelihood.
Reportedly, every NGO, chosen to be a part of the initiative’s cohort of 100, will receive Rs 80 lakhs over two years to direct resources to building its capabilities, resilience and future readiness.
With registrations from over 2300 organisations, the NGOs will be assisted with mentoring, networking and leadership building and it would also enable organisations to recover from the immediate challenges faced due to COVID-19 and sustaining operations by covering critical costs and promoting future readiness for long-term institutional well-being and sustainability, as per statement from the foundation.
The GROW Fund is a unique financial initiative that aims to redefine philanthropy by committing to build a conducive ecosystem for organisations to grow resilient and future ready, by addressing their organisational development needs, it said.
The GROW Fund has received accolades and resources in its mission to make philanthropy more inclusive and accessible to small and mid-sized NGOs, from Indian and international funders including philanthropic institutions and eminent philanthropists known for their individual giving, it read.
Among others, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Manan Trust, Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, MacArthur Foundation, A.T.E Chandra Foundation, Rainmatter Foundation, Dalyan Foundation, Oak Foundation, a private philanthropy partner, Indus Foundation of Utah, Omidyar Network India and Ashish Kacholia along with Edelweiss Group are a part of this initiative as core funders.
Commenting on the announcement of the cohort, Vidya Shah, Executive Chairperson, EdelGive Foundation, said, “We are delighted to see Entrepreneurs Associates NGO from Nagaland being included in the cohort for GROW Fund grantees selected from 20 states of the country. This grassroots organisation has been working tirelessly with underserved communities across the state in area of sustainable livelihood development.
Apart from the monetary support, the NGO from Nagaland would benefit immensely from trainings and sessions on technology, finance, human resources, fundraising and communications among others.
Over the last 13 years, EdelGive Foundation has supported over 150 organisations across 111 districts in 14 states of India, influencing commitments of almost Rs.500 crores to NGOs in the sector.
