Zero Energy Cold Storage unit in Tsg

Tuensang, February 8 (MExN): A Zero Energy Cold Storage unit with 30 tons capacity was inaugurated at Tuensang by Y Kikheto Sema, IAS, Agriculture Production Commissioner, Nagaland. 

The Zero Energy Storage (ZES) initiated by Eleutheros Christian Society (ECS) under Rev Dr Chingmak Kejong and funded by NABARD and the Tata Trust is a technology which could be the solution for rural Nagaland. 

The ZES does not require electricity and yet the room temperature is almost 10 degrees lesser as when compared to the outside temperature, stated an update issued by the Department of Soil and Water Conservation. 

Chongshen, ECS Tuensang gave a short presentation on the activities of the ECS in the field agriculture and livelihood development and shared the experiences of how the intervention of the ECS has impacted the socio economic conditions of the people in district. He stated that the ECS has started working with farming community in a small way in Zunheboto and Mokokchung districts and was looking forward to expand in the future.

Y Kikheto Sema, IAS, APC in his address thanked the ECS and particularly Rev Dr Chingmak Kejong and his wife for working towards the socio economic upliftment of the people of Nagaland and particularly the people of Tuensang. He observed that the ZES will be a very useful facility for the farming community in the state because “the power supply of the state is not going to meet the demand in many years to come.”

He assured the house that the department would recommend the technology and see to it that the central government recognizes the innovative and initiatives of ZES within the funding design and even collaborate in the future. At the same time, he also encouraged the ECS to venture out to other districts as well so that the farming communities of the other districts will also get the benefit.

He stated that the state government is working towards the holistic development in the field of Agriculture and already facilities like Soil Testing Laboratories in all districts, Block Level Soil Testing Laboratories, Bio Fertilizer Production Units and Meteorological Observatories in all the districts are already installed and in collaboration with the IMD the state government is also installing Agro-met AWS in all districts phase wise  also with the help of Digital Agriculture Mission all these information will be integrated in the single platform and be made available to the farmers. 

During the interaction session, the issue regarding the transportation of the agriculture produces to the markets in Kohima and Dimapur was discussed, wherein the observation of trucks of the Police department and the Food Cooperation of India (FCI) transporting the essential commodities into the district and going back empty. 

APC assured that the matter will be discussed with the concerned departments and work out the modalities to facilitate movement of farmer produce to the larger markets. He pointed out that over Rs 60 crore annually is spent in ration for the police personnel throughout the state and majority of the produce is imported from outside, for which he urged that the essential commodities may be procured from the district itself to encourage the farmers and also to boost the economy of the local community.

Earlier, Rev Hankiu, Pastor Yimkhiungru Baptist Church, Saksi NAP Sector and benediction was pronounced by Rev Dr Chingmak Kejong, Secretary, ECS.