The 6th Regional Sale of Articles of Rural Artisans Society (SARAS) fair got underway at Dimapur club, Midland here on Wednesday. The fair was inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur Sachin Jaiswal. A DIPR report informed that DC in his speech mentioned that majority of the Naga people were involved in agri & other allied activities and by growing naturally organic products, has offered an opportunity for producing premium organic products.
He however noted the problems of lack of cold storage problem, market linkage, and bulk production which makes the price of the products higher. He therefore encouraged the SHGs and artisans to give an extra effort to compete with other premium products.
Jaiswal also encouraged the SHGs to get Food Safety Standard Authority India ( FSSAI) certification informing that having the certification makes it easier for SHGs to avail loans from the banks. He also said that apart from SHGs loans, the SHGs can avail loans to buy transportation vehicles from the Chief Minister Micro Finance Scheme.
Jaiswal also appealed and encouraged the SGHs to be active in social media and advertise their products in various media platforms to reach out to the people beyond the country.
Mission Director, Nagaland State Rural Livelihoods Mission, Imtimenla informed that the main objective of the fair was to bring local artisans, SHGs into a platform where they can promote, sale and export their products to larger customers with no middle men involved in the sale and buying of goods.
She said that organizing such fairs will provide maximum exposure to SHGs and would create a competitive spirit amongst the SGHs.
She informed that the SHGs that has potentials will be selected and sent to National SARAS Fairs held in different parts of India, where they will be given the opportunity to advertise and sell their products.
Imtimenla also informed that the NSRLM has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Health & Family Welfare to get the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India(FSSAI) certification for the NSRLM brand called “ Womenfolk”, where all the ingredients ,nutritional values, shell life will be displayed in the packaging. She encouraged the SHGs for keeping the quality of the products in the highest level and to seek the help of NSRLM officials.
She informed that SARAS Fair was an initiative of Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India and organized by Nagaland State Rural Livelihoods Mission, Department of Rural Development, Nagaland and will be held twice a year.
The inaugural program was chaired by State Program Manager Livelihoods (non-farm), A. Tiasenba Longchar and invocation by treasurer, Cedar CLF. Altogether, 37 participants from 16 districts of Nagaland and one SHG from Meghalaya were participating in the Fair. The SARAS Fair will conclude on September 25 and will be opened from 9 am to 6 pm.