A Custom Hiring Centre (CHC) was inaugurated at Kiyezhe village, Sitimi Circle under Kiphire district on Friday. The project was funded under the Aspirational District NITI AAYOG – Special Grants, and implement by Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Kiphire and District Administration, Kiphire.
A Custom Hiring Centre is a unit comprising a set of farm machinery, implements and equipment meant for custom hiring by farmers. The main objective of CHC is to supply farm implements to small, marginal and poor farmers at subsidized rates on hire.
Download Nagaland Tribune app on Google Play
Speaking at the inaugural program, Special Guest EAC Seyochung-Sitimi, Ihoilung Chuilo, NCS, said that the objectives of the Aspirational District program is to set up such initiatives for the villagers to benefit economically. Chuilo Further appealed Jubika A Yepthomi, CEO of Orchid FPO (Farmer Producer Organiser) to take care to take use the machinery sincerely so that it becomes a model for the district.
Dr N Khumdemo Ezung, Senior Scientist, KVK Kiphire, who led the project, said that the entire fund for the Custom Hiring Centre project was provided by the District Administration. He said that the blueprint of the project was first presented before former ADC, Seyochung Rembemo Ezung under which three proposals were laid – CHC, soyabean plantation, and oil production.
The scientist expressed his appreciation for accepting the proposals put forward by KVK. He informed that the soyabean cultivation was underway and that it has been expanded to three villages under Sitimi Circle – Nitoi village, Xuvishe, and Yangsekyu, with a coverage area of 60 hectares. The five varieties of soyabean seeds will be available by January 2024, he said.
Ezung also informed that the oil seeds expeller machine where edible oil (sarso oil/mustard oil) can be extracted for consumption and sale, will soon be implement at Yingphir village.
He hoped that the CHC will usher in a better future for farmers in the region and possibly become “a rice bowl for the district and state”.
Altogether two 9 hp power tillers, three paddle operated paddy threshers, five paddy harvesters, fifteen knapsack sprayers are available at the centre.
The other speakers in the program included Lipichem, DPO, Land Resources, Setsiba, AFA, DAO office, Seroba Sangtam HEA, DHO office Lakhum, NEIDA and Shikako, on behalf of farmers.
The formal program was followed by method demonstration on farm machinery.
