Kohima, July 21 (MExN): The state level review meeting of FOCUS – Nagaland (Fostering Climate Resilient Upland Farming System in the Northeast –Nagaland) was held at Hotel Japfu, Kohima on July 20 to update the project activities in all the project areas.
Addressing the participants, Y Kikheto Sema, IAS Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC), and Mission Director FOCUS Nagaland stated that externally aided projects are important for the State and revealed that a World Bank-supported project will be for the farming sector which will be implemented soon.
As per the DIPR report, the APC said that the FOCUS project which was effective in 2018 but officially launched only in January 2019 could not be implemented as planned due to the COVID pandemic and other factors. He mentioned that many of the project activities were under convergence which is quite challenging, but expressed optimism that with the concerted effort of the project team and the Agri & Allied departments the project would be able to perform better.
Climate change affecting farmers
Ben Yanthan, Director of Agriculture said climate change is affecting agriculture and the livelihood of the farmers of the State. He also presented the key findings of the baseline survey and exhorted the project team members to work towards the achievement of the project objectives.
The meeting was chaired by S Tainiu Addl. Secretary and State Product Director FOCUS and was attended by Officers from Agri & Allied departments and the project team members from the district and State offices. The activities of all the eight project districts were reviewed, followed by a discussion on the project's various components.
