The Nagaland Forest Management Project (NFMP) has channelled more than ₹2 crore through revolving fund support to Self-Help Groups (SHGs), enabling them to generate over ₹6 crore in earnings and ₹2.4 crore in profits across 11 districts of the state. The achievement was highlighted during a two-day Workshop on SHG Livelihood Scale-Up and Market Linkages held at SEFTI, Dimapur, from May 12 to 13.
Organised by NFMP under the Department of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Government of Nagaland, with funding support from JICA, the workshop aimed to formulate a strategic roadmap for transitioning SHG livelihood activities from primary income-generation to scalable, cluster-based secondary enterprises. The programme also focused on ensuring long-term sustainability through institutionalised management systems and stronger market linkages.
Speaking during the inaugural session, Temjenyabang, IFS, CCF and Project Director (AFP), NFMP, stressed the importance of field-level feedback in strengthening the project’s livelihood component. He said the project remains committed to supporting community-based economic development and called on participants to share their experiences to help shape a roadmap for scaling up livelihood interventions.
He further stated that, alongside forest conservation, the project also envisions establishing an “NFMP Brand” and encouraged participants to actively engage in the workshop’s technical discussions and deliberations.
Delivering the opening remarks, M. Senthil Kumar, IFS, Additional PCCF and Chief Project Director, NFMP, said the project has so far reached 185 villages and 440 SHGs across the state. He noted that the project is now approaching its final phase and underlined the need to strengthen livelihood activities through cluster formation and the establishment of a state-level federation.
He urged participants to contribute ideas and insights for preparing a roadmap for the project’s remaining two-year implementation period.
During the workshop, Shailendra, Livelihood Expert, PMC, NFMP, presented an analysis of livelihood promotion initiatives under the project. The event brought together 70 participants, including representatives from all 11 District Management Units (DMUs), Forest Management Units (FMUs), and Forest NGOs (FNGOs) under NFMP, for technical presentations, group discussions, experience-sharing sessions and plenary deliberations on market integration and livelihood enhancement strategies.
(With DIPR inputs)