Secretary, Y Kikheto Sema, IAS inspecting one of the fishery ponds at Zunki valley in Kiphire district on Monday. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 4
Secretary for Finance and Land Resources Department (LRD), Y Kikheto Sema, IAS who is on a field visit to Kiphire district inspecting various projects under LRD has visited Sangtsoze and Tethuyo village under Kiphire district on December 3.
He visited coffee farms, watershed structures and various other vegetable growing areas in the two villages. With regard to coffee, the Secretary was disappointed to see that the farmers were not following the farming method as instructed to them by the experts. Coffee is a shade loving tree but coffee was being grown in the open without any shade. “Coffee farming is being encouraged for your future sustenance but if you do not follow the farming guidelines then you will face difficulties” he told the farmers. He found Sangtsoze village as an economically poor village and emphasized on the need for intervention. He directed the District Project Officer LRD, Kiphire, Ahozhe and LRD Deputy Director, Phuvil to look into the issue and promote the farmers who were following technical instructions.
At Tethuyo, the secretary inspected the water harvesting structures too and other project sites at Zunki valley.
In Tethuyo, various project sites were inspected at Zunki valley where more than 30 fishery ponds were dug on the river bank and vegetables were grown in plenty. The villagers apprised the officials that earlier, there used to be variety of fruits in the valley; however, due to conservation of wildlife in the area, wild animals finished all the fruits and did not prove very beneficial. To this, the Secretary encouraged the villagers to continue engaging in fisheries since the ponds have running water all year round.
During a meeting with the Deputy Commissioner, villagers, church leaders and other stakeholders, Kikheto also talked about the possibility of convergence of various activities with agro and allied departments. Noting that Kiphire district was famous for Kholar and Maize, he also encouraged the people to focus on the two crops to meet the demands within the district itself. He urged the farmers to cultivate Kholar in a permanent area instead of adopting shifting cultivation system. He said permanent cultivation would help in research for growing kholar studying the soil and water conditions. He described Kiphire as a land of rich diversity since it is inhabited by different tribes and viable for growing variety of crops.
Kikheto said he would see if proposal for cold storage could be included in the supplementary memorandum to 15th Finance Commission.
For the success of Kiphire as an aspirational district, he appealed the people to maintain a peaceful atmosphere.
