The third state level steering committee meeting on National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) was held under the chairmanship of chief secretary Nagaland, J Alam at the secretariat conference hall, Kohima on August 12.
According to a DIPR report, joint director, State Agricultural Research Station (SARS) Yimsemyong, Mokokchung, Temsuinla delivered a presentation on implementation of NAFCC project in Nagaland.
She informed that the project titled “gen pool conservation of indigenous rice varieties under traditional integrated rotational farming system (jhum optimisation) for promoting livelihood and food security as climate change adaptation strategy in Nagaland” was launched in April 2019 with the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) as the funding agency.
She also disclosed that the project was implemented in five districts of Nagaland covering 22 villages, benefiting around 1000 families.
Various agendas were discussed in the meeting including extension of the project period.
Agriculture production commissioner (APC), Kikheto Sema said that the project was for a period of three years, however, it could not be implemented on time due to delay in release of fund, total lockdown and prolonged dry spell which affected standing crops in some districts.
He therefore sought approval from the house to request the ministry to further extend the project period till March 2022 to complete the project to which the house agreed.
It may be mentioned that NAFCC project in Nagaland aims to undertake baseline survey for targeting of Jhum area, facilitate treatment at 1 ha of Jhum area per family, develop germplasm of traditional rice varieties, promote cultivation of Indigenous varieties of rice in 1000 ha area, etc.
The projects under NAFCC prioritises needs that build climate resilience in areas identified under State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) and relevant missions under National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is the National Implementing Entity (NIE).
4th project steering committee meeting of FOCUS
The fourth project steering committee meeting of Fostering Climate Resilient Upland Farming System in North East (FOCUS) – Nagaland was held on August 12 at secretariat conference hall, Kohima.
During the meeting, J Alam appealed agri and allied departments and all responsible departments to contribute towards making FOCUS project a success.
tHe also informed that the overall goal of the project would be achieved through the development objective of increasing environmental sustainability and profitability of farming systems practiced by highland farmers.
The meeting also discussed inclusion of three new districts in the FOCUS project.
With the creation of Noklak as new district and with World Bank projects in Tuensang and Peren which winded up during 2019-20, the house discussed it genuine to propose inclusion of the three districts for the remaining three years of FOCUS implementation.
The project steering committee agreed to submit the proposal for inclusion of the three districts to department of economic affairs, government of India.