Kohima, October 24 (MExN): The Naga Club today stated its strong opposition to the recent drive for oil palm plantations in India, particularly in Nagaland and the North-East region, terming it a "disaster for farmers and the environment."
Among other concerns, the Naga Club cited "undebated facts" related to the loss of biodiversity, the unsuitability of monotype plantations, implications for land management systems, corporate monopoly over the market, and various other issues.
The ecological cost is a missing component in the revamped National Mission on Edible Oil-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP), the Naga Club contended in a statement issued by the Information and Publicity Cell on Tuesday.
"These plantations will have an adverse effect on the region's unique and fragile ecosystem and its impact on land ownership management patterns, which are currently in the hands of the community," it emphasised.
The Naga Club further claimed that these trees(palm) "emit toxins that kill other plants" and "displace native wildlife."
The million-dollar question is, can we the Naga people as a people and a nation survive on a dead land? Several studies suggest Oil Palm cultivation leads to forest destruction, land erosion, land pollution and water pollution, it asserted.
Consequently, the Naga Club expressed its commitment to "defend our land and water at any cost for our survival" because the fight for survival is a divine duty, and they will not neglect their responsibility as ordained by Almighty God for posterity.
