V Satya Venkata Rao with Neichute Doulo and others during the inauguration of ‘Shared Production Centre for micro food processing’ at Kukidolong on August 24. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | August 24
The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has extended Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) package to The Entrepreneurs Associates (tEA) towards “Shared Production Centre” for micro food processing at Kukidolong under Chümoukedima district.
Inaugurating this centre today, V Satya Venkata Rao, Deputy Managing Director, SIDBI, Lucknow, said that SIDBI is committed for promotion and development of micro enterprises and nurturing entrepreneurs to stand up and grow.
With focus of improving the living condition of the people in North East and eastern part of the country, he said, SIDBI came up with Eastern Zonal Office where Sanjay Goyal, CGM, is championing all these activities.
Under his (Sanjay Goyal) leadership and with the support of the branches in North East, SIDBI is trying to reach out in our small way to see that the living conditions of the people are improved, Rao said.
Complimenting tEA for bringing the farmers together through this Centre, he was optimistic that it would ultimately prove beneficial for community.
Thanking SIDBI for supporting tEA’s vision, Neichute Doulo, CEO tEA said that the later has extended 2 Dehydration machines to tEA in March 2022.
On the part of tEA, it had developed the infrastructure and acquired land space for setting up a Micro Food Processing Unit as a response to the Covid19 Pandemic lockdowns awakening to the realities that Nagaland needs to increase its agri produces significantly.
He maintained that this micro food processing unit would trigger food processing industry, that is so much needed in Nagaland.
He also sought further assistance from SIDBI towards building a better infrastructure for this Centre as all as revolving fund for farmers.
He informed that tEA will be introducing mushroom farming by October this year.
The CEO said that this Centre would also facilitate training of farmers and women entrepreneurs so that they can take up micro enterprise in their respective area.
Finding the hiccup in commercial scale of agri produces, Doulo said that tEA has decided to do its bit to increase farmers produces by developing a Micro Food Processing Unit in July 2020.
“tEA is so fortunate to get the keen support of SIDBI which finally led to today's inauguration,” said Doulo.
Earlier, the programme was chaired by Khosato H Keyho, advisor Agri business (Turmeric), tEA while Rev Vikuo Rhi, Associate Pastor, Chakhesang Baptist Church Kohima invoked God’s blessing for the Centre.
tEA initiative on micro food processing at Kukidolong
This micro food processing at Kukidolong is one of the long term plans of tEA, emerging out of its works with the farmers and last mile communities across Nagaland and Manipur.
The centre will bridge the gap between farmers produce and value addition of the products, while also minimizing wastage.
Located at the confluence of the pineapple, citrus, papaya, jackfruit, turmeric, ginger, chilli, producing regions of the state, the Production Centre hopes to serve the needs of communities through its mini-machineries, which has been supported by SIDBI.
tEA has been increasingly feeling the need for such a Centre, as it is intensifying its work with the 18000+ farmers through its programs like the Trees for Wealth (TfW) – envisioning to plant 1 billion fruit trees by 2050 and the Farmers Producing Companies (FPC).
The scaling of fruit production through these initiatives will necessitate the presence of ancillary industries that will support such a growth and this centre is timely.
tEA is already experimenting with food products such as jams, pickles, candies, preserves and dried spices in its experiment food laboratory in Kohima.
The Kukidolong unit will become a full fledged micro food processing unit and trigger the much food processing industries to come up in Nagaland.
