Six-day training on permaculture design course began on November 18, at resource centre, Land Resources Department (LRD), Ruzaphema organized by LRD.
A press release from LRD stated that, during the inaugural programme, commissioner & secretary, LRD, Senti Ao reminded that Nagaland being a predominantly agriculturist state practising jhum cultivation, various factors including risk of soil erosion was increasing while also leading to decrease in production and increase in import of food.
“Unless we reverse this trend, we are going to face difficult times and permaculture was one stop solution to this problem,” he said.
Senti expressed the hope that the LRD through its sincere efforts would be able to develop and utilize the benefits of the permaculture design to its full potential and reclaim the loss.
Director, Land Resources Department, T. Renben Lotha in his keynote address said that the main objective of organizing the training was to build an army of permaculturists who in turn will spread the idea of sustainable food production in sync with the nature to all village communities. Informing that 22 officers & staff have already been trained on permaculture, he urged upon the designers and trainees gathered to grab the opportunity of understanding the system of permaculture and its philosophy and lead the people to live with nature and not against it.
According to Renben, most of the climatic problems and ailments were due to mindless exploitation of nature and irresponsible lifestyle. He pointed out that the society has tried to promote production focusing only on economy and separated itself from the core element of care for the nature thus giving rise to various problems.
Director said permaculture design was based on the three core ethics of care for earth, care for people and fair share.
He said the first permaculture design course was only within the LRD and informed that the department envisages to practise permaculture in all its projects.
The inaugural programme was chaired by Inatoli Chishi, state programme coordinator, state level nodal agency while Tepunol Yore, district project officer, Wokha presented a brief highlight on the training. Deputy director, LRD, Hekato N proposed the vote of thanks. Training will culminate on November 23.