A Study on Neped - An Integrated Development ...

A Study on Neped - An Integrated Development Project in Nagaland and its Drawbacks

Author Name : Dr. Merensangla Longkumer

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56025/IJARESM.2023.1162379

ABSTRACT

The aim of the paper is to understand the limitations of NEPED in three (3) selected districts of Nagaland. Major land use pattern in Nagaland continues to be shifting cultivation, known as Jhum (Slash and Burn agriculture). Jhum cultivation is an intrinsic part of the Naga culture, and large areas of land are cropped with a wide range of foods along with the staple crops like rice and maize to meet subsistence needs and increasingly for income generation. Though its negative consequences are known, but yet they cannot be uprooted from the society because it is a part of the tradition and culture of the Nagas and has been practising since time immemorial. The need to find ways to add value to the shifting cultivation system and improving it was of paramount importance because it is the only farming practise well established and accepted by the Nagas. To address these issues, NEPED, a  registered society supported by Government of Nagaland ( GoN )  was formed in the year 1995. The society has implemented programmes in three phases. The first phase was called Nagaland Environmental Protection and Economic Development (NEPED-I).The second phase was Nagaland Empowerment of People through Economic Development (NEPED-II). And the thirdphase was also called Nagaland Empowerment of people through Economic Development (NEPED-III).The programmes do not intend to eliminate traditional shifting cultivation but to improve and modify them by adopting agro-forestry and enriched fallow management systems combined with soil erosion control measure. For the present study,3 districts i.e.Dimapur, Mokokchung and Phek were selected. Two blocks randomly drawn from each sample districts were taken as sample blocks and 20 percent of the villages from each block were selected at random. A total of 280 respondents were selected altogether. Overall, the draw backs perceived by the beneficiaries in adoption of the programme were marketing of produce (16.07%), lack of adequate training (16.07%), less amount of micro credit (10.71), trees taking longer time to mature (5.35%) and non repayment of loan by the landless and poor people (3.54%).

Keywords: NEPED-I, NEPED-II, Jhum, Nagas, problems