NABARD launched Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) at Innao:
Staff Reporter:
Innao, 7th August 2021: A “Community Horticulture Project for Livelihood Generation” was launched by Chief Guest General Manager, NABARD, Partho Saha in presence of DDM NABARD, Kamal Roy, EAC Diyun, S Roy, representatives from NEICORD NGO, Village Heads and beneficiaries of the project on 07.08.2021 at Mudoi Village, Innao, Changlang.
The project was funded by NABARD, Arunachal Pradesh Regional Office, Itanagar and Project Implementing Agency is North East India Committee on Relief and Development (NEICORD), NGO.
The project envisages development of 200 wadis (1 acre per beneficiary) of the Tangsa, Singpho & Khamti tribes residing in Dumba Mossang, Dumba Singpho, Innao Khamti, Innao Singpho and Mudoi villages of Changlang District.
This ITDP is for a period of six years with the aim to promote livelihood through sustainable agriculture by establishing wadi for plantation of Arecanut, Pineapple, Turmeric, Moringa and Black pepper for 200 farmers. The project component also includes women development and community-based health care program in the selected villages of Innao.
DDM NABARD, Kamal Roy highlighted the aims and objective of the project and ground level activities before undertaking this project. He said, Arecanut, Pineapple and turmeric varieties selected for cultivation have regular demand from local markets and hence, no problems are envisaged in marketing of wadi produce. However, with a view to enable the farmers to fetch good returns for their produce the PIA must encourage to form Farmers’ Producer Organization for marketing of their produce.
EAC, Diyun, S Roy encourages the farmers and advised them to do the plantation after getting scientific know how. He requested farmers to contribute from their side also, so that the size of wadi can be greater than 1 acre. He assured all the supports available from administration during the execution of the project.
General Manager, NABARD, Partho Saha highlighted various features of the project. He mentioned that selection of villages has been done strategically cluster basis along the road for better communication and consequently better monitoring of the project. He said, the sustainability of the Project will be, due to a combination of a number of factors, most importantly the participatory approach. The objective of the Project is not necessarily to increase food production but to improve access to food through improved production of high value crops. It is believed that when farmers get the additional incomes from sale of produce, they will become encouraged to sustain the Project. The financial returns to the households coupled with the attainment of food security at community level will be enough to sustain the interest of the Project.
Later, GM NABARD, Partho Saha laid foundation stone of Construction of Rural Haat at Piyong which will be implemented by ArSRLM & Diamond PLF of SHGs. He also visited Common Facility Centre (CFC) established by NOSAAP (a farmers producers company based at Namsai), Arecanut nursery set up by Spices FPO, visited Rural Mart of Chandramukhi and NOSAAP outlet at Namsai.