Newmai News Network
Imphal | February 15
Manipur Horticulture and Soil Conservation Minister Thounaojam Shyamkumar on Saturday inaugurated an Organic Outlet in Tusü Nganü Khumai (TNK) village, Senapati district headquarters. It is the fifth organic outlet and first in the hill district to be opened by the Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA) under the aegis of Horticulture and Soil Conservation department.
Addressing the media persons, Th Shyamkumar said that Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department aims to open such outlet in every district so that organic produce which are available in the interior areas of every district can be collected and sold at an appropriate place.
He added that people are now adopting for a healthy lifestyle and opting for chemical free food produces/products.
Sensing the need of the hour, Shyamkumar said the department is working sincerely to open more organic outlets and provide benefits of other schemes to beneficiaries.
He also appealed everyone to adopt a healthy lifestyle and consume organic produces/products. Another objective is to also sell organic food produces/products in a hygienic way. The Minister further sought cooperation from the general public for success of all the developmental works.
K Debadutta Sharma, Project Director, MOMA, said that since 2016, organic scheme under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India has been continuously implemented in the State. He said under the scheme, the department identified some of the organic food products which were then processed, branded and sold outside the state. He said the opening of organic outlet will surely give awareness the masses which can further help our society to become healthier and to keep serious diseases at bay.
Stating that the organic outlet opened today will help the 1,500 organic farmers of Senapati district in selling their produces/products, he said if the Centre continues the scheme than such outlets will be opened in district headquarters mainly Churachandpur, Ukhrul and Tamenglong districts. He believed that the department will be able in achieving the mission under the dynamic leadership of Th. Shyamkumar.
John Sha, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Senapati district said that increase in population has made some people to adopt unethical means to earn profit.
Usage of chemical fertilizers is dangerous for the people as well as for the soil, the DFO appealed all to go organic and use bio-fertilizers to become sustainable. He believed that the opening will be a beginning step for Senapati district to become sustainable.
He further gave suggestion that the MOMA under the Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department can tie up with the tribal people under the Van Dhan Vikas Kendra scheme in helping them to sell their final products.
The scheme is an initiative targeting livelihood generation for tribal population by harnessing the wealth of forest ie Van Dhan. Under the scheme, the SHGs of tribal people collect Minor Forest Produces (MFPs) which are then primary processed and sold to state implementing agencies or tie up with corporate secondary processor.
