Dimapur, June 3 (MExN): An intensive tour program was organized in 32 A/C Atoizu constituency with the initiative of MLA Er. Picto Shohe, who himself accompanied the team on May 30 and 31, 2013. The tour program was a follow up of pet project of joint initiative program of ICAR, NU (KVK) and State horticulture department to evolve a horticultural model projects in a hilly area in different locations and climatic conditions.
It may be stated that the first league of survey was carried out in the first week of May 2013 with a team from ICAR and Nagaland University led by Dr. Deka Jt. Director and Professor Dr. Akali respectively. The team had visited some orchards, Atoizu horticulture farm, interacted with the farmers and had closed door meeting with the women SHGs. The entourage first landed in low laying villages starting from COCO area covering Philimi, Rotomi, Akuhaito and Khrimtomi and the team of resource persons/officials were impressed with the area’s suitability of growing pomegranate, orange, guava, pineapple, passion, vegetables and other related crops. The team also visited orange farm at Rotomi village where first hand technical know-how on management and maintenance of the farm was deliberated and demonstrated. The team was taken by surprise to encounter a unique molasses processing unit set up by a local entrepreneur with his limited modern tools in his farm located at Akuhaito highway which a success story to be emulated by likeminded unemployed youth.
At Atoizu town, a training program on women SHGs was conducted at the Panchayat hall with the resource persons from the state horticulture department led by Deputy Director, Chozule Kikhi and altogether over 50 members from different SHGs /villages attended the same. Simultaneously, another team led by Deputy Director, Qhutovi Wotsa and Shikato DHO visited Horticulture farm at Atoizu town which was “established way back in 1958 along with a farm at Pfutsure town to introduce apple farms in the state”. Interaction with the staff, land donors, public leaders and concerned citizens was held where the crowd unanimously decided to cooperate if the department came forward for any developmental program in
near future.
During the trip, Er Picto addressed the public at Rotomi, SHGs at Atoizu and Aizuto and at Horticulture farm to take up vibrant agriculture seriously in order to improve livelihood of the rural areas and for sustenance of natural resources. The MLA was accompanied by ADC Atoizu, L. Jamithung Lotha, officials from Horticulture and New & Renewable Energy departments and hosts of public elders & leaders.
On May 31, the team visited temperate high altitude kiwi farms at Awotsakili village. The team expressed surprise at the encounter of series of low cost backward kiwi farming at Naghutomi old village, “which could be an answer for poor and marginal kiwi farmers.”
The team also visited Dorcas SHG, a pioneering SHG in Zunheboto district in promoting floriculture located at Aizuto Project Officer. Er. Samuel from the department of New & Renewable Energy was also a part of the team who surveyed the area for possibility of implementing the departmental projects especially to install solar power in some strategic villages and in particular at Atoizu Khelhoshe Polytechnic College.
On June 1, after the touring program, the department of horticulture responded right away by committing to send three members representing three outstanding SHGs from Atoizu range to undergo intensive course at Noida in the month of June to empower themselves and also to impart such programs to other local SHGs after their return.
 MEETING RESOLUTION.JPG)
