Kohima, March 25 (MExN): The Mhitsie Farmers’ Club Khonoma was inaugurated at Phetsukiku, Khonoma village by Longmayanger, Assistant Chief Technical Officer (ACTO), Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Kohima on March 23.
The Club members comprising thirty nine youths are 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.
Resource Persons for the programme included: Imtisenla, ACTO from KVK Kohima; Jonah Sema, Chief Manager, NStCB, Main branch, Kohima, and Bendang Aier, AGM, NABARD.
Niekedolie Hiekha in his keynote address highlighted the background, aims and objectives of the Farmers’ Club and expressed the strong desire to work in consultation and co-ordination with various stakeholders to create the necessary atmosphere for promoting Income Generating Activities (IGAs) in their village. This will not only encourage self-employment but also help them in understanding the various financial products, thereby resulting in better utilization and repayment of bank loans, he noted.
Conduct of Base Level Orientation Programme by AGM, NABARD and discussion on action points were the other highlights of the day.
Accordingly, the 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 to 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 to open 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, a “Calendar of Activities” was prepared to achieve the various action points within a prescribed time frame.
On the sidelines of the launching programme, Bendang Aier, AGM, NABARD also inaugurated “Kedojuki” at Phetsukiku, Khonoma village which will be used as a study centre for young school students during the morning hours and as training cum production centre for weavers during the day time.
