Mushroom Cultivation..

A day long training-cum demonstration on mushroom, food & nutrition and medicinal plants was held at Koyu on February 18 last, which was attended by 28 participants.

Aimed at creating awareness, motivation and involvement of women groups and farmers in mushroom cultivation, the event was organized by Future Generations Arunachal (FGA) in collaboration with Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh.

Resource persons, assistant professor (plant pathology) College of Horticulture and Forestry, Pasighat Dr. P. Raja and Y J Lego, PTO, ATMA from Farmers training center Pasighat gave demonstrative training on mushroom cultivation and explaining about its economic benefits discribing that mushroom have been valued throughout the world as both food and medicine for thousands of years due to its richness in nutrition. The demands of mushroom in the market has been gone up and have created a space in a common man's kitchen. The participants were also given material and seeds to begin cultivation.

Earlier, Takhe Mena and Punyo Rina, Supervisors, FGA highlighted about the training programme and importance of mushroom cultivation.

Exchange Visit to Yachuli area

Best Practices team from Mechuka and Koyu Korang areas were in Yachuli area recently. They reached Itanagar from their respective villages on August 24 and on to Yazali on 25. The team from Mechuka had reached Itanagar via Along accompanied by Kago Yam, the Project Supervisor there. Similarly, Takhe Meena, Project Supervisor led the one man team from Koyu area to Itanagar via Pasighat.

The Best Practices Project Coordinator, Pura Aiya accompanied the team from Itanagar and they reached Yazali on August 26. Punyo Rina, Project Supervisor of the area was waiting for them. The same evening, they trekked the fifteen kilometer path to Rubdi where the women groups and male volunteers welcomed them. The team, dead tired after walking for hours together through serpentine jungle path was rejuvenated withe cultural programs in the Nyishi village in the evening.

The teams had extensive exchange of ideas and shared the works they are doing in their areas. They later visited Kuch-Kuth village as well and came back to Yazali the next day. The came back to Itanagar on August 28 after a brief visit to Ziro.

The teams, especially with women from Mechuka villages were quite impressed and happy with the trip. They were a bit scared crossing a dilapidated hanging bridge on their way to Kuch Kuth from Rubdi. The wet-rice cultivation system of the Apatanis inspired the women and they are determined to replicate such practice in Mechuka as well.

No woman from Koyu area could make it this time. Apparently the women were willing but their husbands were worried about the landslides and roadblocks. An energetic Gaon Bura of Kakki village represented the area.

Read this for a brief news report about the trip.

Workshop on Conservation in Koyu

A day-long workshop on community-based conservation and sustainable development through community energy was organized at Koyu by Future Generations Arunachal (FGA) today. Gaon Buras (GBs), members of the women’s groups, school teachers and students attended the workshop.

The workshop focused on threats of global warming and role of communities in containing it using slides shows and documentaries on melting of snow in the Himalayas leading to rising sea level. If we do not take action now all coastal areas will be submerged and it will affect the people in the hills as well, informed Punyo Chada and Hibu Tatu, Green Teachers from Ngunu Ziro who were the resource persons.

The community participants and students prepared three months work plans for their respective areas which included tree plantation, flood control activities, maintenance of drains and cleanliness drives in the surrounding areas, controlling of wild animal hunting and deforestations.

Wild life and virgin forests could be used to promote eco-tourism and generate income for the people said Marte Koyu, vice Principal, Government Higher Secondary School, Koyu while participating in the program. He referred to many species like tigers, reindeers and hornbills which are almost extinct in Arunachal Pradesh because of human hunting. Earlier, Pura Aiya, Project Coordinator Best Practices of FGA highlighted about the works of the organization. He also explained the working methods of FGA based on SEED-SCALE process and urged the participants to get involved to create a better future.

Tajir Kakki (HGB) of Kakki village and Tunya Rina (GB) of Rina village distributed tree saplings provided by Pasighat Forest Division to the participants.