Kohima: A centre for selling products by the Self Help Groups (SHGs) in Nagaland was launched by Deputy Director and Schematic Officer of the Horticulture Department Chozhule Kikhi at NARO Ki in Kohima on Monday.
According to sources here today, Mrs Kikhi said a total of 1368 Self-Help Groups have been formed in 60 villages across the state with a membership of 14753 women.
Inaugurating the centre, she said in-farm income generating activities in this regard include vegetables like leek, tomato, beans, potato, chilli, king chilli, short term cash crops like ginger turmeric and passion fruit, floriculture, nursery raising of cardamom, passion fruit, chilli, tree tomato, while off-farm activities are food processing, mushroom cultivation, vegetable vending and other economic activities like handicraft, small business, human resource and thrift saving.
‘SHGs activities aim to provide two square meals per day, or if there is enough food but still lack money and resource.
SHG activities are expected to generate better income to support children’s education/family health care,’ Kikhi said, adding vegetable cultivation, home scale food preservation, mushroom cultivation, etc, are best suited for resource-poor women to fight hunger and poverty.
In the meantime, she added that SHGs activities can not only contribute to food security and enhance income, but also mitigate the harsh effect of climate change as rampant jhum delayed when a stable income is generated by farmers and the SHGs.
She expressed optimism that the SHGs are well on their way to contribute to their own well being, the state’s economy and a rise in the country’s GDP. (UNI)
