Organizers with stakeholders during the Trade Facilitation Fair in Kohima on July 3. (Morung Photo)
SELCO Foundation, NSRLM conduct Trade Facilitation Fair for SHGs
Our Correspondent
Kohima | July 3
The SELCO Foundation in collaboration with Nagaland State Rural Livelihood Mission (NSRLM) on July 3 conducted a Trade Facilitation Fair at NBCC Convention Centre, Kohima under the theme “Women-led Rural Enterprises for a Climate-Smart Nagaland.”
The Fair showcased solutions that support and promote rural entrepreneurship, while exploring innovative climate-smart technologies that strengthen women-led rural livelihoods.
Addressing the event, Nagaland Chief Secretary Sentiyanger Imchen, stressed the need to equip women entrepreneurs with modern technology, clean energy solutions, financial inclusion and better market access to build resilient and sustainable rural enterprises.
Imchen said that women have long been the backbone of Nagaland’s rural economy and that the next phase of growth must be driven by innovation, technology and climate-smart solutions.
Highlighting the achievements of the NSRLM, he noted that over 1.17 lakh rural households have been mobilised into 15,445 SHGs across 1,231 villages in all 17 districts.
While acknowledging the success of the SHGs movement in the state, the Chief Secretary said many women entrepreneurs still face challenges in accessing technology, finance and markets.
He also pointed to the growing impact of climate change on agriculture, including erratic rainfall patterns, disrupted cropping cycles and declining productivity, and stressed that the issue can no longer be ignored.
Emphasising the need for urgent action, he called for greater adoption of renewable energy, climate-smart technologies and low-carbon solutions to build resilient and sustainable rural livelihoods.
Imchen said the partnership between NSRLM, SELCO Foundation and financial institutions would help promote solar-powered technologies such as dryers, grinders and cold storage units, enabling SHGs and entrepreneurs to reduce post-harvest losses, improve product quality and create local employment opportunities.
He also emphasised the importance of financial institutions in supporting rural enterprises and encouraged SHGs and women entrepreneurs to make full use of the opportunities offered through the programme to strengthen their livelihoods and enterprises.
SELCO seeks to support locally driven solutions
Delivering the context-setting presentation on “Clean Energy for Rural Livelihoods,” Huda Jaffer of SELCO Foundation said that Nagaland’s strong potential for innovation and entrepreneurship presents an opportunity to create lasting impact through collaborative efforts.
She noted that SELCO Foundation, which has been working for over 16 years, places emphasis on building partnerships based on trust and transparency.
Jaffer stated that the Foundation seeks to support locally driven solutions and encouraged stakeholders to envision future-ready interventions that address livelihood challenges.
She stressed that the most important priority is to provide need-based support, ensuring that solutions are designed around the aspirations and realities of local communities while creating sustainable rural livelihoods.
Moa Sangtam, Joint Secretary Rural Development department & Mission Director (NSRLM) delivered welcome address while Khriezovonuo Lhoungu, State Project Manager- SISD, NSRLM chaired the programme.
Panel discussion on women entrepreneurs
A panel discussion on “Voices from the Field – Inspiring Stories of Women Entrepreneurs in Self-Help Groups” was also held, featuring for women entrepreneurs Vezosiilii Rhakho, S. Angungla, Y. Esther Sangtam and Ethel Kithan who shared their experiences and entrepreneurial journeys.
The session was moderated by Rachita Misra of SELCO Foundation while reflections from enterprise journeys in Meghalaya was shared by Minha Khan, Project Lead, PRIME-Rural, Meghalaya.
The exhibition stalls at the Fair showcased inovative technologies, financial solutions, and products developed by Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
The event aimed to provide a common platform for stakeholders to explore innovative climate-smart technologies and enterprise solutions that could strengthen women-led rural livelihoods.
The programme featured a Technology Mela showcasing Climate-Smart Technologies, live demonstrations by solution providers, orientation sessions for SHG members and rural entrepreneurs, and dedicated sessions on financing opportunities.
It also facilitated interactions between entrepreneurs, vendors, financial institutions, and community institutions to foster partnerships and market linkages.
The fair seeks to increased awareness and demand for climate-smart technologies among SHG members and rural entrepreneurs, stronger linkages between entrepreneurs, solution providers and financial institutions, enhanced access to financing opportunities for climate-smart enterprises, recommendations and field-level insights to inform future livelihood and improved coordination among SRLM, line departments, bankers and community institutions.
