Dimapur, January 7 (MExN): Changki valley has “a wide scope to make it an economic centre in the state,” according to Nagaland Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC) HK Khulu. The official today described the Changki Eco-green Project at Tsürang valley under Mokokchung district as one of the best projects in the state. The project began in the year 2000.
APC impressed by Eco-green Project at Tsürang valley
Addressing a meeting of agriculture and allied department officials and progressive farmers of Changki village at the project site, Khulu said he was impressed with the cultivation of diverse plants including cash crops such as tea, rubber, Aloe Vera, Agar and fruits such as orange and lemon. Khulu arrived at the project site on 6th January in a 2-day field visit. Khulu, who visited the entire project site, suggested to the farmers to take up Agar plantations saying it has great market value not only in the country but the world over.
Khulu also said the Nagaland government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Laos to promote Agar plantation in commercial scale in the state. He disclosed that two high officials are now in Laos to acquaint themselves with administering injection, technically, on Agar tree in Laos to enhance its market value. “Under the MOU, Nagaland state government is actively considering to implement the administration of injection on Agar tree in the state,” the APC said.
Having seen the mass scale cultivation of tea, Aloe Vera and other crops on vast areas at the project site, the commissioner said that the state government will look into development of an all-weather road to the project site and assured that this will be given top priority.
Former Director General of Police of Nagaland J. Changkija also urged the visiting APC to extend all possible help to the project saying that the farmers are facing numerous challenges, one of which being the dismal state of the roads in the area. Joint Director, of State Agricultural Research Station, Yisemyong, Teketushi, and the Village Council Chairmen of Changki and Satsük villages also spoke at the meeting.
Changki Eco-green Project, stretched across an area of about 1800 hectares, came into being in the year 2000 on the basis of land leased out to 16 progressive individual farmers by Changki village. Earlier, the chairman of Changki Eco-Green project, Imkongtemsu submitted a memorandum to the APC requesting him to extend assistance to the farmers.
