TDF-Wadi II project launched in Ukhrul
Source: Chronicle News Service
Ukhrul, July 23 2022:
Veterinary & animal
husbandry minister Khashim
on Saturday launched the second phase of Tribal Development Fund (TDF)-Wadi project for five villages of Ukhrul
district here at Halang village.
The Wadi project is a welfare programme for the tribal communities and is being
implemented in the district
by NERCORMP/UDCRMS,
Ukhrul, with the support of
the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
(NABARD) under its Tribal
Development Fund.
The launch programme was
attended by minister Khashim
Vashum as chief guest, while
Ukhrul DC Krishna Kumar and
DGM NABARD Imphal Khai
Siamlal Guite were the functional president and guest of
honour respectively.
Speaking at the launch
event, minister Khasim informed that Wadi project is
a part of the government's
commitment to improve the
lives of the tribal people of
the state.
He also said that the
scheme will go a long way in
improving the economy and
lives of the villagers.
"When doing any work, it
is always important to make
sure that it begins well but
at the same time, it should
also have a good ending.
This
Wadi project is no exception,"
he said, urging all the Wadi
beneficiaries of the five villages
to take optimum advantage of
the project.
He stressed that the project
is not for the UDCRMS or NABARD or even the government,
but it's the beneficiaries who
will directly benefit from the
project.
Under the scheme, each beneficiary will have to
develop one acre of orchard where they will plant
fruit-bearing trees, he said and urged them to plant
trees with commitment to ensure their survival.
"When it comes to taking care of the trees you
plant, you must treat each one like a human being.
You must give them the attention and care they
need to stay healthy and thrive.
It's not just you
but your offspring will also reap the benefits of
the trees you planted," he said.
Minister Khashim Vashum further encouraged
the villagers to ensure success of the project and
assured of his assistance if this happens.
He also appealed to different banking institutions
in the district to support genuine, hard-working
beneficiaries by extending loans and other facilities to them.
In his speech, DGM Siamlal Guite stated that the
project belongs to the villagers and that NABARD is
only felicitating the process.
He said that the focus
of the Wadi project to promote orchard which
can uplift the lives and economy of the villagers.
While assuring maximum support and guidance
in the implementation, he said that success of the
project will largely depend on how the beneficiaries
ensure that their orchard projects are bankable.
Unless the banks consider it worth investing in
their orchards, the project cannot be considered
successful, he stressed.
DC Krishna Kumar called the Wadi programme
a landmark project for the villagers and urged the
beneficiaries of the project to focus on convergence
of different development and livelihood activities.
He also stressed on the need for balancing between ecological preservation and development/
livelihood activities to ensure sustainability of
natural resources for both the present generation
and future generations.
District project director of UDCRMS Lily Jajo
Rose appealed to all stakeholders and well-wishers
to continue their support to the Wadi project so
that it brings positive changes in the lives of the
poor villagers.
Highlighting different aspects of
the project, UDCRMS Natural Resource & Livelihood manager Somipam Lungleng said that the
project aims at enhancing the livelihood scenario
of 200 tribal families through enhancing income
opportunity along with conservation measures
for soil, moisture and water.
He said that the project will cover 200 acres of
land in five villages of Peh, Hatang, Halang Ato
Tang, Ngainga and Pharung in the district and that
the implementation of core activity namely, Wadi
development will be of two batches of 100 acres
each and will be for a period of 6 years.
According to Lungleng, a combination of Kiwi
(Allison, Monty and Tomuri varieties) and Kachai
Lemon with border species, Nongmangkha (Phlogacanthus thyrsiformis) on the periphery of the
land holdings will constitute a WADI.
Each WADI model consisting of 1 acre will be
developed comprising 0.25 acre of Kiwi and 0.75
acre of Lemon crops accommodating 24 Kiwis and
60 Lemon plants respectively, he said, adding
that: "The total project cost will be Rs 1.56 crore
including Rs 0.26 crore contribution from the
community members and Rs 1.29 crore of grant
assistance has been requested from the Tribal
Development Fund (TDF)."
Development of farm ponds through Jalkunds
will be constructed wherever feasible.
Apart
from developing the WADI, other development
interventions in the areas of soil conservation,
water resource development, agriculture development, women empowerment has been proposed,
Lungleng said.
He informed that timely training
and capacity building of all stakeholders would
also be provided to the farmers and they will be
provided with Credit Linkage with local banks
like MSCB and PNB from second year onwards.
He also expressed hope of perceptible increase in
employment generation by developing WADI by
way of on-farm operations, harvesting, loading,
packing, transporting, unloading, distribution and
marketing.
Popular Tangkhul singer Yuileichan
Mahongnao enthralled the gathering with her
musical performances, while Halang Women's
Society presented a special number.
Students
of Halang Baptist Church Mission School also
performed a choreography item.
Officials from
different line departments including forest, and
banks attended the launch event.
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