KVG Tuensang celebrates ‘Mahila Kisan Diwas’
Dimapur, October 15 (MExN): The Krishi Vigyan Kendra Tuensang celebrated ‘Mahila Kisan Diwas’ on October 13 in collaboration with Eleutheros Christian Society (ECS) and Northeast Initiatives Development Agency at CKS-Hall, Tuensang Town with Deputy Commissioner of Tuensang, L. Jamithung Lotha as Guest of Honour.
Dr. Keviletsu Khate, Sr. Scientist & Head, KVK Tuensang, in his introductory note said that women constitutes more than 70% of the labour force in agriculture and it is their role that has driven the advancement in agriculture.
To recognise women’s contribution, October 15 is observed for the first time in India as the ‘Day of Women Agriculturist’ or Mahila Kisan Diwas, he said.
However, he pointed out that it is being celebrated on October 13 in Tuensang for the convenience of the participating women farmers as October 15 falls on Sunday.
The Guest of Honour, Jamithung Lotha, Deputy Commissioner in his speech said that the time is right to recognise the immense contribution made by women in agriculture especially in our community for which the celebration is aimed at. He streamlined Gender sensitive budgets where programmes are targeted for women in agriculture and allied sectors to create positive boost and benefit for the farm women.
Encouraging women participants, he said that every intervention in agriculture should be market sensitive to enhance economic returns.
In the present scenario it is difficult for rural farmers to start enterprises without the assistance of financial institutions, therefore this type of event should also involve different banks to link the rural women farmers to different programmes offered by the financial institutions for improving the outcome of Agriculture and Allied sectors in the district, he added.
Jamithung also stated that this platform should be utilised to help the emerging women Self Help Groups from the success stories of well performing SHGs through experience sharing.
He further suggested that it will be more benefitting for the women farmers if Agri & Allied departments are also a part of the celebration in the future. Short speech was also delivered by the co-organizer the ECS and NEIDA.
Different awards were also presented to women farmers for their outstanding contribution in improving the agriculture in the district and economy of the rural farmers during the event.
Accepting the award for her outstanding contribution and commitment in the field of agriculture in the district, an awardee P. Lam said her investment in small agriculture ventures has provided her family a better life. She also lauded ECS for all the assistance in her ventures.
In the Groups (SHGs) category, the award was presented to Longkhim SHG-1 under ECS in recognition of their contribution and commitment in the field of Agriculture and implementation of new ideas to diversify income-generating activities in rural farming communities in the district.
While in SHG confederation level Khudei & Haak EDOU, was awarded in recognition of their support to Women's Organizations (SHGs) and farm women who promote new conceptual and development programs and implementation of new ideas to diversify income generating activities in rural farming communities. The award was presented by the Deputy Commissioner.
The celebration also included a seminar on ‘Women Empowerment’ where the resource persons were Antimangyang Chang, Retainer Lawyer and Yimtsusangla Chang, Retainer Lawyer from Tuensang District Legal Service Authority and Dr. Shisarenla Aier, SMS (Horticulture) KVK, Tuensang.
Altogether 281 women farmers from across the district participated in the event.
Meanwhile, as a part of the celebration KVK, Tuensang also organized inter-Higher Secondary School level Drawing and Essay writing competition on the theme, ‘Role of Women in Agriculture’ on October 12 at SIRD hall.
In Drawing competition 1st position was bagged by St. John Higher Secondary School while the Govt. Higher Secondary School Tuensang bagged the 2nd prize.
In the Essay writing competition both 1st and 2nd position was bagged by St. John Higher Secondary School Tuensang. 15 students from four Higher Secondary School participated in the competition.
