APC inspects NEC projects under Longleng district

Morung Express News
Longleng | September 18

Agriculture Production Commissioner, Y Kikheto Sema, IAS who has been entrusted by the state government to head a team to inspect and monitor NEC projects in the state inspected various projects under Longleng district on September 17 and 18.

On September 17, the team inspected the ongoing works of Longleng-Ladigarh road stretching 107 km. The APC was satisfied with the progress of the work. He also interacted with leaders of various village enroute waiting for him. He urged people of the area to have a sense of belongingness by maintaining the road. “We should not always depend on the government to repair every tiny pothole but with real sense of belongingness the community can come together to carry out minor repair works. That way, the roads in our state can last longer and that will reflect the true nature of public extending their support and cooperation to the government,” he added. 

He also enlightened the people about the PM Kisan scheme which envisages providing monetary grant to the farmers in the country. Kikheto made a strong point to weed out bogus farmer beneficiaries and the scheme benefitting the genuine farmers.

On September 18, the team also inspected the ongoing construction of Guest House at Longleng which has the approved cost of Rs 398 lakh out of which Rs 126 lakh has been released. Almost 90% of the total works has been completed.

Pointing out that many state officials have to halt at the Guest House of the Phom Baptist Church in Longleng owing to absence of government guest house, Kikheto said that a guest house of the state government in Longleng was a long felt need and expressed satisfaction with the work progress. 

The APC also addressed a joint meeting of DC Longleng and agri and allied departments including agriculture, horticulture, land resources, water resources, soil & water conservation, animal husbandry & veterinary sciences, forest, fisheries, co-operation and sericulture. 

During the meeting, Kikheto called upon all the departments and administration to come together to encourage integrated/settled farming since a single department or entity could not make such practise successful given the fact that in an integrated farming the contribution of all agri and allied departments was indispensable. He emphasized on the need to work in one’s own land and consume the produce thereof. “As far as agriculture is concerned, Nagaland has the potential to produce most of the items that our people consume. Therefore, we must encourage going back to agriculture for self sustainability of food,” he encouraged.

Observing that many of the vegetable vendors were women selling their produce on the roadside braving sun and rain, Kikheto called upon the administration and agri and allied departments to come together to facilitate proper marketing sheds for the farmers to sell their produce. He also expressed happiness that the Soil & Water Conservation Department had received sanction to set up soil testing laboratory in all the district headquarters and added that it would go a long way in assisting the farmers to take up farming activities according to the suitability of the crops to the soil.

Kikheto also touched upon the Dikhu Hydroelectric Project and appealed the public  for their cooperation stating that once the project becomes successful, the state would become self-sufficient in power.

The APC and his team also visited the FOCUS-IFAD Ginger cultivation at Thanga village under Longleng district.

Kikheto was accompanied by a host of officials from agri and allied departments and Longleng district administration.