Various achievements and challenges faced by the farmers in the state were highlighted at the farmers’ interaction programme with officials of department of soil and water conservation (S&WC) and United Nations development programme (UNDP) on Monday. The programme was organized by S&WC, at de Oriental Grand hotel Kohima.
Representatives of progressive farmers from Wokha, Mon and Mokokchung districts during the interaction with the officials revealed, that Jhum cultivation had been greatly reduced in their districts, with the introduction of UNDP project. In Nagaland, UNDP was introduced in 2009 in three districts- Wokha, Mokokchung and Mon. It is a United Nations’ Global Development networks to help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development.
The farmers said, through UNDP they could earn and provide education to their children.
Jt. director S&WC, Imkongneken in his brief highlighted the project in the state. He said, the primary thrust of the government was to encourage the framers to do away with shifting (Jhum) cultivation by providing them with assistance. He maintained that shifting cultivation played an important role in the local economy, but with high population growth and economic pressures, Jhum cultivation has become not sustainable leading to soil erosion, disruption of water availability and ecosystems.
In this regard, project on sustainable land and ecosystem management in shifting cultivation areas of Nagaland for ecological and livelihood security, was established with Global environment Facility (GEF) under UNDP, with S&WC and village council as executing partners.
UNDP, country director Jaco Cilliers in his address said, agriculture activities in the state should be utilized wisely, so that it could also be conserved for the next generations.
He further, said that UNDP project would be extended to other districts.
RELATED POSTS
View all
