MTU team visits Kwatha, studies economic issues
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, November 17 2021:
Institution Innovation Council of Manipur Technical University (IIC-MTU) organised a two-day study tour to Kwatha village in Tengnoupal district to determine trade and commerce related problems of the area on November 11-2.In a release, MTU Management Department HoD Dr Moirangthem Roshini conveyed that the main objective of the study tour to Kwatha was to identify problems and also to bring out solutions in the form of ideas or any other feasible measures for the welfare of people of Kwatha, The IIC-MTU team comprising seven faculty members and 39 students along with MTU staff visited Kwatha village and was able to identify the general problems, more specifically trade and commerce issues faced by the people of Kwatha, it added.
MTU mentioned that the faculty and students held a discussion with Kwatha Welfare Youth Club general secretary Takhellambam Sanjoy and other members of the village and were able to point out that the main problems besieging the villagers is the pathetic road connectivity.
Due to poor road infrastructure, transportation of goods and services continues to be hindered.
The main occupation of villagers is agriculture, with issues of invasion of farms by wild animals, poor irrigation facilities, negative effect of 'Jhum' cultivation and inability to produce agriculture surplus having negative impact on their agriculture activities.
The only commercial crop which generates income for the villagers is 'Soibum' (fermented bamboo shoot), however, the 'Soibum' production of Kwatha is yet to get wide recognition or receive a geographical indication (GI) tag.
The producers are struggling with high cost of packaging and transportation issue, it noted.
The release observed that the area has limited job opportunities with educated youth remaining underemployed by working in agriculture sector.
The village faces telecommunication problems along with poor health and educational services.
Kwatha village has a lot of potential in terms of tourism, commercial crops and other activities which need to be tapped by authorities concerned and organisations/stakeholders.
Further.
IIC-MTU will be bringing up some feasible solutions for the people of Kwatha, Dr Moirangthem Roshini conveyed adding that the team also presented few essential items for the villagers during the tour.