Namsai: Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein in the presence of NABARD chairman G R Chintala and MLAs Chau Zingnu Namchoom and Jummum Ete Deori launched a NABARD-sponsored integrated tribal development project under the tribal development fund here on Friday.
The project, which will directly benefit 200 tribal families by enhancing their livelihood supports through sustainable and participatory livelihood programmes, is being implemented by Namsai Organic Spice and Agricultural Products (NOSAAP) Producer Co. Ltd.
Mein in his speech said NABARD is a major partner in the development of the state and thanked the rural development bank for its support in various infrastructure development programmes under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) such as Border Light Illumination and District Hospital Upgradation programmes.
He added that the state government is looking forward to more support and cooperation from the bank in the coming days through NABARD Infrastructure Development Assistance (NIDA).
Mein said to make credit-linked schemes and the cultivation of plantation crops successful, more awareness needs to be created amongst the farmers about the cultivation, production and establishing market linkages for their produce.
“We also need to impart technical know-how knowledge to the farmers,” he added.
The deputy chief minister said this year’s union budget has been very encouraging for the farmers, women and youths with provisions to bring more investment, growth and create more jobs.
“The budget also aims to transform the agriculture sector including ensuring credit, record MSP, boosting food processing and encouraging start-ups in the sector,” he said.
Mein further said Arunachal Pradesh is expected to benefit from the PM’s Development North East initiatives where an initial allocation of ₹1,500 crore will be implemented through the North East Council and the new Vibrant Village Programme that will help to develop border villages.
Highlighting the Golden Jubilee state cabinet decision taken at Ziro on January 20, Mein said the state government will provide financial support of ₹1 lakh each to 500 women self-help groups (SHG) and ₹2 lakh as capital support to 300 primary level federations for procurement of goods transport vehicles.
Dr Chintala assured to provide more support to Arunachal Pradesh citing that the state has tremendous scope for expansion under agriculture and horticulture crops.
The NABARD chairman also emphasised the need for the introduction of a scientific cropping system with more farm mechanisation and farming technology and to establish backward linkages.
Partho Saha, the general manager of NABARD’s Itanagar regional office, said NABARD has been closely associated with tribal development and sustainable livelihoods through orchard-based farming systems.
Based on the successful experience of Adivasi Development Programmes, NABARD embarked upon an ambitious programme of replicating the wadi model in the state.
“The project is implemented by partnering with state governments, the government of India, and NGOs,” he added.
MLA Namchoom, NOSAAP chief executive officer Chau Athina Chauhai, Namsai DPO Keshav Sharma, resource person Krishna Saikia and Namsai district development manager Kamal Roy also spoke on the occasion.
Earlier, Mein and Chintala unveiled the statues of Singpho and Tai Khamti couples in the premises of the multipurpose hall here. The two later visited the site of the construction of the Namsai district hospital funded by NABARD under the RIDF.
Chintala also visited the Tibetan Refugee camp and interacted with beneficiaries of NABARD-supported skill development intervention for hand woven carpets.
A rural haat at Piyong was also inaugurated by him for marketing the finished products of SHG members and farmers.
