Farmers from Zunheboto districts receive rice under the ‘Grain for Grain’ initiative supporting those affected by human-elephant conflict in Nagaland.
Dimapur, October 26 (MExN): The Wildlife Division, Dimapur, has expressed appreciation to Vivek Menon, Founder Trustee and Executive Director of the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), and its partner, Fondation Segre, for extending the ‘Grain for Grain’ initiative to Nagaland. The humanitarian-conservation scheme aims to provide relief to farmers affected by human-elephant conflict (HEC) and to strengthen coexistence between people and wildlife.
In the inaugural phase of implementation in Nagaland, the initiative reached 123 households across five villages in Wokha and Zunheboto districts. Each household received one quintal of rice as compensation for extensive crop losses caused by elephant depredation. The distribution symbolised both material support and solidarity from the wider conservation fraternity to the affected communities.
The ‘Grain for Grain’ programme embodies a people-centred approach to conservation by acknowledging that the well-being of communities and the protection of wildlife are closely connected.
Through this initiative, WTI and Fondation Segre seek to alleviate the economic hardships of farmers living near elephant habitats. The programme demonstrates that conservation extends beyond protecting species and ecosystems — it also involves supporting and empowering those who share their lands with wildlife.
According to the Division, the intervention has provided both sustenance and moral reassurance to families whose livelihoods were severely disrupted. It also underscores how empathy and practical conservation measures can produce tangible benefits and goodwill in human-wildlife conflict areas.
The Wildlife Division highlighted that Nagaland’s landscape often sees elephant movement overlapping with human settlements and agricultural zones. Therefore, initiatives such as ‘Grain for Grain’ are critical to building community trust and resilience.
“As Nagaland continues to navigate the delicate balance between human prosperity and wildlife protection, the Division looks forward to further strengthening its partnership with the Wildlife Trust of India,” the statement said. It added that awareness must be complemented by sustained and practical interventions, especially in regions where livelihoods and wildlife habitats intersect.
The Division reiterated its gratitude to the Wildlife Trust of India, Fondation Segre, Vivek Menon, and Chingrisoror Rumthao, Field Officer of WTI, along with his team, for their commitment and collaboration in ensuring the successful implementation of the programme.
“Together, we remain steadfast in our collective mission to foster a future of harmonious coexistence, one in which both people and wildlife not only endure, but thrive, in shared resilience and respect,” stated H Tokaho Kinimi, IFS, Wildlife Warden, Wildlife Division, Dimapur.
