Mhitsie Farmers’ Club Khonoma was inaugurated on March 23 at Phetsukiku, Khonoma village by Longmayanger, Assistant Chief Technical Officer (ACTO), Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Kohima.
The club members comprising of 39 youths has been engaged in carpentry, masonry, handicraft, weaving and agriculture with the Nagaland State Cooperative Bank (NStCB), KVK and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) as stakeholders.
In his keynote address, Niekedolie Hiekha highlighted the background, aims and objectives of the Mhitsie farmers’ club and expressed their strong desire to work in consultation and co-ordination with various stakeholders to create the atmosphere considered necessary for promoting Income Generating Activities (IGAs) in their village.
He added that it would not only encourage self-employment but also help them understand various financial products, thereby resulting in better utilization and repayment of bank loans.
Conduct of base level orientation programme by AGM, NABARD and discussion on action points were other highlights of the day. Major action points identified for Mhitsie Farmers Club Khonoma are formation of activity based Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) for bank credit linkage, assist banks in recovery of loans, facilitate the issue of soil health card for interested farmers, co-ordinate with KVK Kohima to conduct “meet the experts” programmes, conduct activity specific training programmes in collaboration with line departments, facilitate farmers in opening bank accounts including coverage under various social security schemes and facilitate their carpenters, artisans, weavers and mason workers to receive government issued identity cards.
Accordingly, they decided to prepare “calendar of activities” in order to achieve various action points within a prescribed time frame. On launching programme, Bendang Aier, AGM, NABARD also inaugurated “kedojuki” at Phetsukiku, Khonoma village which will be used as study centre for young school students during morning hours and as training cum production centre for weavers during the day time.
Chief coordinator of the club, Megokolie Pier chaired the meeting, Vikepeno Pier, chairperson, women department, Baptist Church, Khonoma village pronounced the invocation while a vote of thanks was delivered by Asalie Kruse. Resource persons of the programme were Imtisenla, ACTO from KVK Kohima, Jonah Sema, chief manager, NStCB, main branch, Kohima and Bendang Aier, AGM, NABARD.