LRD promotes Permaculture Design Course in Nagaland

Commissioner & Secretary, Land Resources Department, Senti Ao, IAS with department officers and trainees at Ruzaphema on November 18. (Photo Courtesy: LRD) 

Dimapur, November 18 (MExN): Six-day training on Permaculture Design Course began on November 18 at Resource Centre, Land Resources Department (LRD), Ruzaphema. The training is organized by LRD.

During the inaugural programme, a press release issued by LRD stated that Commissioner & Secretary, LRD, Senti Ao, IAS reminded that Nagaland being a predominantly agriculturist state practising jhum cultivation, various factors including risk of soil erosion was increasing while also leading to decrease in production and increase in import of food. “Unless we reverse this trend, we are going to face difficult times and Permaculture is a one stop solution to this problem,” he said. 

He said the state was fortunate to have realized the importance of symbiotic and harmonious relationship with nature at a very nascent stage unlike other states where the level of mindless exploitation has reached an advanced stage. 

Senti expressed the hope that the LRD through its sincere efforts would be able to develop and utilize the benefits of the Permaculture design to its full potential and reclaim the loss.

He was optimistic that the Department would be able to make the farmers understand the long-term value of maintaining healthy relationship with the ecosystem so that they would effortlessly cope up with the practise of Permaculture.

Director, LRD, T. Renben Lotha in his keynote address said that the main objective of organizing the training was to build an army of permaculturists who in turn will spread the idea of sustainable food production in sync with the nature to all village communities. 

Informing that 22 officers and staffs have already been trained on Permaculture, he urged upon the designers and trainees gathered to grab the opportunity of understanding the system of Permaculture and its philosophy and lead the people to live with nature and not against it. 

According to Renben, most of the climatic problems and ailments were due to mindless exploitation of nature and irresponsible lifestyle. He pointed out that the society has tried to promote production focusing only on economy and separated itself from the core element of care for the nature thus giving rise to various problems.

“Most important aspect is identifying the problem and deficiencies. We must try to find a simple solution and this is where Permaculture design comes in with a solution,” he said. The Director said Permaculture design was based on the three core ethics of care for earth, care for people and fair share.

He urged the designers to work in such a way that every aspect and factor is looked into so that the user is also benefited in terms of production with utmost care for the nature.

He said the first Permaculture design course was only within the LRD and informed that the Department envisages practising Permaculture in all its projects.

The inaugural programme was chaired by Inatoli Chishi, State Programme Coordinator, State Level Nodal Agency while Tepunol Yore, District Project Officer, Wokha presented a brief highlight on the training. Deputy Director, LRD, Hekato N proposed the vote of thanks.

During the training which will culminate on November 23, the participants would be trained on various methods of Permaculture design, climate factors, water and soil conservation, waste management, food forest, farm infrastructure, livestock farming and management etc.