The dedication of machineries received under the Noklak Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVK) scheme, Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED), Ministry of Tribal Affairs was held on Wednesday at Jungyam Fishery Farm, Noklak HQ. The event was organised by Nagaland Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) with SDO (Civil) Noklak HQ, Vikhoto Richa, NCS as the Special Guest.

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Richa, in his address, stated that Noklak being situated in the corner most part of Nagaland faces big challenges in terms of transportation and infrastructure. He said that the lack of right avenues hinders its hardworking people with great potential from opportunities. He mentioned that the labour-intensive traditional ways of farming of the Nagas are not sustainable when it comes to income and yet the hilly terrain of Nagaland makes it difficult to implement modern ways of farming.

SDO (Civil) Noklak HQ, Vikhoto Richa, NCS

The SDO encouraged beekeeping as a source of livelihood that has higher potential of generating side income and value addition. He therefore urged the farmers, self help groups and beneficiaries to grasp the privilege of the schemes provided by the government and also to utilise the machines provided by the ministry in a proper way. Richa also emphasized on brand marketing and the need of going back to organic way of living.

Richa requested the departments to do follow-up actions to direct and train the farmers and at the same time urged the farmers to make sensible investments from their sides without fully depending on the government schemes.

Richa also inaugurated the demonstration of machineries and exhibition of products during the event.

Phem Shiu, Team Member NBHM (L); Mongshai, Chairperson, Taste of Noklak (TON) (R)

Team Member NBHM, Noklak & Shamator District in-charge, Phem Shiu gave his sincere appreciations to Chairman Obed Quinker, team leader Sentiwapang Aier, Additional Secretary to the Government of Nagaland, and Mhathung Tsopoe, team member NBHM, in-charge of TRIFED, for their support and efforts to bring the machinery all the way from Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.  He highlighted that the machineries were provided under the Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVK) scheme which is under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India.

Shiu elaborated that initially, the farmers were concerned about the processing and marketing of the value added products and forest produce but that they are fortunate that even though living in a far flung area, they have acquired all these machineries and materials at their doorstep. Now we can be able to utilize these machineries for the benefits of our farmers and people as a whole, Shiu stated while requesting the beneficiaries to use the machinery carefully and come out with a lot of success stories so that they can avail more schemes in the future.

Francis Kikon, NBHM (L); Thengio, Youth Pastor, Thang Baptist Church (R)

Earlier, the program was chaired by Francis Kikon, NBHM; invocation was delivered by Kai, Pastor, Kusong Baptist Church; short speech was given by Mongshai, Chairperson, Taste of Noklak (TON); and vote of thanks by Lushop, Secretary, VDVK Noklak. The machineries were dedicated by Thengio, Youth Pastor, Thang Baptist Church.