Wokha, February 19 (MExN): Officials from the Department of Horticulture toured Wokha district from February 11 to 12.
A lemongrass distillation unit installed at Chukitong through HMNEH program was inaugurated by Watienla Jamir, Director of Horticulture. She highlighted that lemongrass is hugely economical due to low volume, but it has high value returns. She encouraged the villagers of Chukitong to utilize the distillation unit at maximum capacity, for which, more areas from other surrounding villages need to be brought in for cultivation.
CR Kikon, speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, thanked the Department of Horticulture and Government of Nagaland for providing the much needed lemongrass distillation unit and also shared the monetary benefit brought to the village so far through sale of lemon grass oil.
A warehouse constructed through the 13th Finance Commission was also inaugurated by the Director at New Wokha village in the presence of prominent citizens of the village and departmental officials. Expressing satisfaction at the workmanship of the warehouse, the Director also thanked KR Murry, contractor, for generously donating land for construction of the warehouse. Located at an ideal and central area, the warehouse would prove to be a boon for collection, grading, storage and sale of fruits, vegetables and even flowers, fetching premium prices to the farmers of Wokha district in the near future, she stated.
Emphasizing that the facility belongs to the people, the Director sought the cooperation of the New Wokha village in preserving and protecting the warehouse. She also assured the farmers of the department’s assistance and cooperation according to various schemes available.
Besides the contractor, Dr. Chumben Murry, Ex-Minister, Agriculture, also present spoke on the occasion.
The department officials also visited the NEEPCO Doyang Hydroelectric Power Project. As part of Swacch Bharat, the Horticulture staff along with NEEPCO officials cleaned up the surroundings of the hydro project. Recognizing the potentials of the area, the Horticulture department also agreed to provide fruit trees to be planted in the Doyang Hydroelectric Power Project site.
