Effects of climate change can no longer be ignored: CS

DIMAPUR, JUL 3 (NPN): State chief secretary Sentiyanger Imchen on Friday said climate change was already affecting Nagaland’s agriculture through erratic rainfall, disrupted cropping cycles and declining productivity, stressing that issue can no longer be ignored.
Speaking at a one-day programme on “Women-Led Rural Enterprises for a Climate-Smart Nagaland” at the NBCC Convention Centre, Kohima, Imchen called for wider adoption of renewable energy, climate-smart technologies and low-carbon solutions to build resilient rural livelihoods.
According to a DIPR report, the event was organised by the SELCO Foundation in collaboration with the Nagaland State Rural Livelihoods Mission (NSRLM) to promote climate-smart and energy-efficient technologies among Self-Help Group (SHG) members and rural entrepreneurs across the state.
Inaugurating the programme as the special guest, Imchen said women had long been the backbone of Nagaland’s rural economy and that the next phase of growth must be driven by innovation, technology and climate-smart solutions.
The chief secretary emphasised the need to equip women entrepreneurs with modern technology, clean energy solutions, financial inclusion and improved market access to build sustainable rural enterprises.
Highlighting the achievements of NSRLM, Imchen said more than 1.17 lakh rural households had been mobilised into 15,445 SHGs across 1,231 villages in all 17 districts.
Acknowledging the success of the SHG movement, he said many women entrepreneurs continued to face challenges in accessing technology, finance and markets.
He said the partnership between NSRLM, SELCO Foundation and financial institutions would help promote solar-powered technologies such as dryers, grinders and cold storage units, enabling SHGs and entrepreneurs to reduce post-harvest losses, improve product quality and create local employment opportunities.
Imchen also underscored the role of financial institutions in supporting rural enterprises and encouraged SHGs and women entrepreneurs to make full use of the opportunities offered through the programme.
In his welcome address, joint secretary, Rural Development, and mission director (NSRLM), Moa Sangtam, said the mission remained committed to supporting rural livelihoods despite existing challenges.
Describing the Technology Mela as an initiative organised for SHG members, Sangtam encouraged participants to explore the machinery on display and share feedback to help NSRLM improve its future interventions.
In a presentation on “Clean Energy for Rural Livelihoods,” SELCO Foundation representative Huda Jaffer said Nagaland had strong potential for innovation and entrepreneurship, creating opportunities to build sustainable rural livelihoods through collaboration.
She said SELCO Foundation, which has been working for over 16 years, focused on partnerships built on trust and transparency while supporting locally driven solutions.
Jaffer said interventions should be designed around the aspirations and realities of local communities to ensure long-term impact.
The programme featured 19 exhibition stalls showcasing climate-smart technologies, financial solutions and products developed by SHGs.
It also included live technology demonstrations, orientation sessions for SHG members and rural entrepreneurs, discussions on financing opportunities, and interactions among entrepreneurs, vendors, financial institutions and community organisations to strengthen partnerships and market linkages.
A panel discussion on “Voices from the Field – Inspiring Stories of Women Entrepreneurs in Self-Help Groups” was also held, featuring women entrepreneurs who shared their experiences and entrepreneurial journeys. The session was moderated by Rachita Misra of SELCO Foundation. Reflections from enterprise journeys in Meghalaya were shared by Minha Khan, Project Lead, PRIME-Rural, Meghalaya.