4 days Ago By Sentinel Digital Desk
The NABARD has been implementing TRIBES (Tribal Resilience Initiative for Building Environmentally Sustainable Livelihoods), a flagship scheme, to empower tribal communities in Mizoram and to prevent unscientific shifting cultivation, officials said on Tuesday. In , where shifting cultivation (locally called jhumming) is deeply ingrained in Mizo culture, unscientific agricultural practice has posed environmental challenges due to reduced fallow periods and declining land productivity. Of Mizoram’s 12 lakh population, 94.
4 per cent are tribals. A NABARD official said that they sanctioned 13 TRIBES projects, reflecting its dedication to transforming tribals’ livelihoods in the state. Out of the 13 projects, seven projects have been successfully completed, while six are ongoing, the official said, adding that a total of around 19 crore has been sanctioned, with around Rs 17 crore disbursed under the sanctioned projects.
The project supports a variety of crops, including orange, mango, litchi, areca nut, papaya, and banana, with turmeric, garden pea, and pineapple as intercrops. Additionally, for landless farmers, piggery and poultry units have been developed to ensure diversified livelihood opportunities, the official said. The projects are executed through Project Facilitating Agencies (PFAs) such as NEIDA, World Vision India – CADP, CODNERC, and Angel Business Promoters of Mizoram.
To ensure effective implementation and outcome, the projects are closely monitored at the district level by the DDMs and by consultants from Consultancy Services (NABCONS). The official said that for an all-inclusive development, mainstreaming tribals by improving their livelihoods is a necessity. NABARD is actively engaged in supporting tribal livelihoods through various promotional and skill development programmes.
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