The Mokokchung Forest Division organized a one-day Exposure Trip in L6 (Biodiversity Conservation Landscape) Villages on 30th January 2025. The Forest Division informed in a press release that the trip provided valuable insights and hands-on experience to the participants and also encouraged them to implement these methods in their own communities for improved agricultural productivity and biodiversity conservation.
45 participants, including members of the CCA committee and SHGs from Batch-2 Village (Akhoya, Unger, Changtongya Old & Nukshiyim), took part in the trip. The team was led by Lipokinla Pongen (FcOM) accompanied by Talimeren Ao (Convergence Expert, DMU) and Imemakok (Forester-1).
At State Agriculture Research Station (SARS) in Yisemyong, Longham Phom, Agriculture Officer, SARS welcomed all participants and highlighted the various activities undertaken by the department and presented a short theoretical overview of Vermicomposting. Talimeren Ao delivered words of appreciation on behalf of the FBMP team.
Following the session, the team moved on to the field inspections, where they observed the cultivation of various crops, including millets, Chinese cabbage, broccoli and Azolla- a water based aquatic fern that can be grown as a livestock feed, biofertilizer, mosquito repellent and observed the process and gained practical experience with vermicomposting. The team observed various paddy cultivation plots, orchard cultivation, coffee cultivation, composting of manure, charcoal preparation pits, and different techniques implemented by the department to promote crop growth and development.
After the field inspections, the team visited Merakum Tzuin (Nagar Van) at Yimchalu, located 3 km from Mokokchung Town. This site, once an abandoned Jhum area, has now been transformed into an urban nature park for recreation, nature education, and other environment-friendly activities.
During the Visit, Shreyansee Jain, IAS (P) Assistant Commissioner, Mokokchung and Dr. Sentitula Pongen, IFS, DFO Mokokchung Forest Division interacted with the Project villagers, discussing forest conservation initiatives. They also engaged in conversation about the villagers needs and the ongoing conservation activities within the village. The visit concluded with a shared lunch.
The “Forest and Biodiversity Management in the Himalaya, Nagaland” Project (FBMP) Co-financed by Federal Republic of Germany through KfW (German Development Bank) is being implemented under Mokokchung Forest Division and under the Batch-2 village which include Unger, Akhoya, Nukshiyim and Changtongya Old village.
The objectives of this Project include promotion of sustainable and effective management of forest and biodiversity in the state of Nagaland, to support improved connectivity and conservation of Biodiversity, to create and enhance livelihood opportunities of dependent communities, and to put in place incentive mechanisms rewarding communities for effectively protecting and maintaining their Community Conserved Areas.