Rs. 3.66 crore watershed development fund to be given to 247 villages
Our Correspondent
Kohima | August 10
Buoyed by the successful implementation of Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) in Nagaland, the state’s department of land resources will be holding a state level watershed conference to mark the culmination of batch-1 project of IWMP on August 11 here at NBCC Convention Hall at 10:00 am.
This was informed to media persons during a press conference here Tuesday.
Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang will grace the occasion as the chief guest. Parliamentary secretary for land resources B.S. Nganlang Phom and chief secretary Pankaj Kumar will also speak on the occasion.
Other highlights of the conference include handing over of watershed development fund, release of book on ‘Best practices and success stories of IWMP,’ conferring awards and exhibition stall.
Land resources department was established as a full-fledged department in 1993-94 with the main objective of evolving integrated strategies for better utilization of the natural resources base and take up activities aimed at reclaiming the degraded lands and increasing productivity; creating employment opportunities; raising rural incomes and living standard; restoring ecological balance and thereby promoting overall economic development on a sustained basis.
The department is one of the youngest and smallest departments with less than 200 employees constituting 0.1% of 1.40 lakh total government employees in Nagaland.
Watershed development
Watershed development, erstwhile IWMP, has become an integral yet distinctive component of the Pradhan Matri Krishi Sinchayee Jonana (PMKSY), which was launched in July 2015 by amalgamating various sectoral programmes of the Government of India like Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme, repair, restoration and renovation of water bodies and Command Area Development of Ministry of Water Resources, Integrated Watershed Management Programme of department of land resources and On Farm Water Management (Component of NSMA) of Ministry of Agriculture to bring about comprehensive water resource development and management.
The achievement during 2015-16 are creation of 90 new rainwater harvesting structures, renovation/restoration of 30 old rain water harvesting structures, buying of 62 ha of additional area under irrigation, 11525 ha plantation, including afforestation and horticulture, formation of 182 Self Help Groups, and providing livelihoods to 620 households.
Land resources secretary Y. Kikheto Sema, IAS said the department will be handing over watershed development fund amounting to Rs. 3.66 crore to all the first batch of 247 villages under IWMP.
On the other hand, he regretted that the funding has been drastically reduced to Rs. 27 crore against the total projected amount of Rs. 180 crore.
“We will request GoI to increase the allocation,” he said.
Coffee plantation
The land resources department is taking up coffee plantation in Nagaland in view of the favorable climatic condition and market potential. A five-year comprehensive plan for development of coffee in Nagaland has been prepared for a total area of 5,000 ha. covering all district of Nagaland to be implemented in convergence with Coffee Board of India.
Kikheto said that the Department in convergence with other line departments would be taking up massive coffee plantation drive in every district.
He said that once coffee production commences farmers can earn upto Rs 3.75 lakh in a year.
Rubber plantation
The department is also promoting rubber cultivation on a large scale in the state in view of the high economic returns with the support of Rubber Board of India.
Rubber is successfully cultivated with excellent results in the foothill areas and valley lands of the state, including Peren, Wokha, Mokokchung, Dimapur, Mon, some parts of Longleng and some areas under Zunheboto and Tuensang districts.
The state has an overall potential to develop 4.6 lakh hectares of rubber plantation, out of which one lakh hectares has been targeted to be covered within this year.
Currently, 15,000 hectares was covered under rubber plantations with about 60 lakh standing trees at various stage of growth.
The current production of rubber was 3000 metric tonnes with a value about Rs. 50 to Rs. 60 crore.
Expressing that the Department has been encouraging local farmers to give up jhum cultivation and involve in coffee plantation and rubber cultivation, he said jhum cultivation does not provide much dividend but involvement in these two sectors would help in uplift of rural economy and also improve the living standard of rural people.
Springshed development
Land resources director, Mhathung Yanthan said that another important area covered by the department is the Springshed Development.
He said that Nagaland being a predominantly rural and hilly state with more than 90% of water demand for domestic purpose in rural areas depending on springs, it is important to revive or rejuvenate the drying springs and increase the water availability through Springshed development.
He said that the department has taken initiative for Springshed development since last year which seeks to address the issues of regenerating springs, streams and underground flows.
The department also took up special initiative in commemoration of 50 years of statehood in December 2003 by launching “Special Programme for Environmental & Economic Development (SPEED).” This programme hinges on adoption of 50 villages in Nagaland for a period of five years with the primary objective of developing them into economically empowered and climate smart villages.
