Kohima, July 9 (MExN): A plantation drive was conducted on July 8 at Tsiesema-Peducha bypass road. It was led by Shürhoneiu Sanchu with a team of 18 people, all alumni of Shalom Bible Seminary, Sechü: Zubza.
A press release stated a short programme was held before the plantation drive where Sanchu shared how he started the plantation drive. He maintained that he wanted to do something for the society and after much deliberation arrived at the idea to plant indigenous fruit bearing trees along the highways. “Growing up in the village, I always had lots of indigenous fruits which were readily available in the jungle. Nowadays, these fruits are getting scarcer and that’s when I realized I can do something to revive these trees again.” he stated.
Among the many fruit bearing trees, Sanchu’s main fruit is the wild apple tree, which he hopes to plant in terms of thousands by the wayside so that common people and travelers alike can benefit from its fruits. Sanchu, who is also an assistant pastor maintained that caring for God’s creation is also a part of the mandate of every believer and shared that it is up to each individual to do his bit for his environment as well.
Speaking on Sanchu’s desire to plant 10,000 trees, Ruokuovilie Kense, Associate Pastor, Touphe Basa Baptist Church expressed happiness at the drive and urged everyone to contribute in achieving the desired target of planting 10,000 trees. “It won’t be a difficult target to reach, if everyone can contribute in planting the trees,” he exhorted.
Mezhüvolie Khrabvü, a volunteer at the plantation maintained that planting trees in this day and age is so important given the fact that the last couple of years has seen more landslides. “I believe we need more plantation drives in order to check landslides especially near the roads which are a big concern and poses hazard to the safety of travelers and pedestrians alike,” he maintained.
The day saw the plantation of more than two hundred trees along the by-pass road. Trees that were planted included wild apple, jackfruit, stink bean, cherry and pine.
So far, the “Plant A Tree: Grow A Life” project has seen a total plantation of more than 3000 trees. The various plantation drives since its inception in December 2015 has seen a number of volunteers from various churches, students, village youths, NGOs and well wishers participating, Sanchu informed.
It may be mentioned that Sanchu is instrumental in plantation of trees along the National Highway particularly in the Northern Angami region under the theme, “Plant A Tree: Grow A Life.”
