The official visited farms in Kolasib district, about 85 kms from Aizawl, where NLUP beneficiaries are undertaking different activities under the state government's ambitious Rs 7873-crore project. Expressing satisfaction over the activities of the beneficiaries, Choudury hoped that the project would go a long way in improving the state's economy to a great extent.
In a meeting with officials of NLUP line departments at Kolasib DC office's conference hall, the Planning Commission's adviser stressed the need for coordination among the line departments to make the project a success.
He also pointed out that all government schemes were for the benefit of the people. Talking about the Centre's Look East Policy, Choudury said that Mizoram would immensely benefit from the LEP because of its strategic location - being sandwiched between Myanmar and Bangladesh.
He also pointed out that the economic development of the entire Northeast largely depended on India's trade with South Asian countries. In his field visit, the central official visited horticulture centre, bamboo and broom grass cultivations, oil palm industries etc.
He was assisted by NLUP apex board's officer-on-special duty L R Laskara, NLUP apex board project coordinator Dr Robert Rualthankhuma and other district officials. In the first five years, the NLUP aims to support 1,20,000 families.
The departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, Veterinary, Industries, Forest, Fisheries, Sericulture and Soil and Water Conservation would be involved in the scheme. About 80 per cent of farmers in Mizoram still depend on jhum cultivation that involves clearing of forests and burning trees, weeds and bamboos.
The NLUP aims to restore ecological balance by providing the farmers alternative sustainable and permanent land-based means of livelihood.
It also aims to create 21,480 hectares of bamboo plantation to benefit 10,740 families. Despite the slash-and-burn system of cultivation, Mizoram has a large forest cover area of 75.77 per cent of the total land.
The NLUP intends to keep 60 per cent of the State's total geographical area under forest cover and the remaining 40 per cent for land-based development.
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