‘We plant, we grow, we experience’

Ozü Atsü Project focused on cultivating self-reliance

Limasenla Jamir 
Mokokchung| May 21

When the global pandemic started in 2020, all market activities were put to halt and it became difficult to procure fresh vegetables for consumption in Mokokchung Town. It was during this period the Mokokchung Town Baptist Church Youth Department (MTBA YD) initiated the Self-Reliance Project under which the ‘Ozü Atsü (My garden) Project’ and ‘Backyard Poultry Farming Project’ were included. The project was implemented under the MTBA Skill Training Entrepreneurship and Placement Cell.

“The lockdown was a period of realization that we can grow kitchen gardens or community gardens and produce vegetables and rear poultry for our own consumption instead of being fully dependent on others for food supply,” said Monglier, Associate Pastor, MTBA. “The Self- Reliance project was initiated to inculcate the value of self- reliance and sustainability among the young people,” he said.

There are ten fellowships under MTBA Youth department. Each fellowship was provided with free seeds and manure to start the project in 2020. The project started in August and by October 2020, two sales days were held where the ten fellowships sold the produce from the garden and also products which they could create on their own.

The Ozü Atsü project is an ongoing project. In 2021, the youth department distributed seed money to all the fellowship and the responses from the youths have been very encouraging. 

“Year 2021 has also started with great expectations for our fellowship. What started as a small scale community kitchen gardening project for the youth during the lockdown has proved to be a boon for the youngsters,” said Yanger, a member of A&B Youth Fellowship. 

“It has made the youth aware of the value and the joy of having a vegetable garden. Working together, getting hands-on experience and knowledge of  nurturing taking care of the crops, sharing ideas…the sweat and toil involved in making it bountiful are the life skills that we have learnt and are learning with each seasonal crops that we sow,” Yanger added.

B Asang Lemtur, Chairperson, Arkong Youth Fellowship also commented, “The Ozü Atsü Project is a notable initiative of the youth department. It gives an opportunity for the youths to switch their idle hours into a more productive approach.

Apart from the various advantages we gain by practically being involved, the added bonus will be the principles we learn: hard work and patience.”

She further added “And, isn’t nature so therapeutic? Seeing the first sprout, the buds, getting to take the produce out…it is another level of joy. Is it just me or is gardening a really underrated hobby?”

“All fellowships under MTBA YD are now in the full process of sowing seeds of their choice. Regular updates of their gardens are shared and we can see that each person is learning and growing through the Ozü Atsü Project. We are hoping and praying that the situation will get better so that we can have a sales day like last year,” said Limamenba, President, MTBA YD.

“It is very encouraging to see that the churches are now focusing on resource management, training and development apart from the regular church missions. With projects such as the Self- Reliance project, the church will not only help in producing trained and experienced individuals but also self-sufficient individuals who will, may be, help the economy in the future,” said Asen Jamir, an executive  member of Arkong Youth Fellowship.