Imphal, December 06: Out of three projects envisioned in the North Eastern region with funding from NABARD, the Heikol venture being implemented at Longmai Duibansui near Noney Bazar in Tamenglong district is highly anticipated to yield the desired fruits.

For Amu Kamei an important functionary of Manipur Tribal Pioneer Association his personal dedication towards a floriculture (heikol) project attracted representatives of NABARD resulting in the funding agency entrusting Amu to start a WADI project which had started to pay dividends of not only his hardwork but is also supplementing the source of the locals.

Interacting with some mediapersons at Duibansui yesterday, Amu and DGM of NABARD (Imphal) Sonamani Yambem informed that WADI project originated from Gujarat.

The Project, initially introduced in tribal hub of India's western States to encourage the villagers stay put at their villages and earn livelihood from agro-based ventures, was spread to other tribal pockets of the country under NABARD funding.

The main objective of the NABARD sponsored projects is to encourage tribal population to augment their income by pursuing horticulture on large scale basis as well as short term basis (20-30 yrs).

The Duibansui project being implemented by Manipur Tribals' Pioneer Association is today eight years old and emphasis is laid on fruit bearing trees which on completion of the project period would be handed to the locals for its use and yield benefits.

The particular project targeted to benefit 500 families covers an area of 500 acres that is likely to benefit over 125 households in the first phase.

Main fruit crops in the project include 7500 of Cashew and Litchi plants respectively procured from the States of Tamil Nadu (Chennai) and Bihar (Muzaffarpur).

A spot visit to the project site indicated that the plants have grown about two-three feet high which on full growth will benefit 195 families in the second phase with about 200 more families standing to benefit from the same venture.

According to Sonamani and Amu Kamei, Tamenglong district was previously associated with rich yield of Yongchak and Orange but had been witnessing a steady decline on the food/fruit crops due to vulnerability of these crops to plant diseases in the past few years.

Moreover, limited market for these crops compelled the district cultivators to opt for alternative food crops leading to the implementing as well as the funding agencies introduce cashew and litchi cultivation on a trial basis as soil texture of the district was also found to be highly suited to the latter crop varieties.

An outstanding feature of the Duibansui Project said to be of Rs 1 crore is the cent percent grant extended by NABARD which according to Amu was an outcome of his dedicated endeavour on providing employment opportunities to the locals apart from contributing to the food stock.

briefing media persons on his venture, Amu recalled of grooming a Heikol project in 2002 which expanded into the current one (WADI) after NABARD officials attending a seminar (2004) for establishing a Krishi Vigyan Kendra at Duibansui was impressed with his commitment subsequently leading to offer to start the present project after due approval of NABARD's Mumbai headquarters authorities.

Regretting general concept that NGOs are being set up with the intention of procuring funds only, Amu opined that in case nearly 10,000 NGOs operating in Manipur implement their respective projects in a sincere manner the State would advance towards prosperity in leaps and bounds.

On the other hand, sonamani conceded that problems associated with repayment of loan money had led to the funding agency take a calculated risk on cent percent grant for the Duibansui Project.

He, nevertheless, asserted that NABARD would not sit idle but constantly monitor the progress of the sponsored project to ensure the same bears fruit.

Sonamani also confided that selected cultivators were sent for training on the fruit crop plantation at Maharashtra as the project's first phase initiative.

Apart from State representatives of NABARD making monthly project site visit to assess the ongoing work and progress, officials from the funding agency's Mumbai headquarters keep tap of the progress every 2-3 months, Sonamani insisted and categorised the Duibansui Project as heading towards the right direction so far.

In continued process, functionaries of Manipur Tribals Pioneer Association had been sent for training related to managerial aspect of the project, the NABARD DGM said while adding that all possible assistance would be extended be it in marketing sector or establishment of food processing unit/s.Besides expressing scepticism on success of similar project being undertaken at Meghalaya, Sonamani said the third project in the NE envisioned for implementation at Mizoram is yet to take off inspite of necessary project sanction already cleared.

While informing that only one WADI project is sanctioned in a State at a time, Sonamani exuded confidence that on the basis of Tamenglong's success story getting a positive nod for similar projects at Chandel and Ukhrul districts in the future from the NABARD would not pose much problem.

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