Success Stories -NL -Final - Department of Land Resources

H.2. Paving the Way to Success
A Case Study from Mhainamtsi, Nagaland
Peren district occupies the south western tip of Nagaland. The entire population is tribal and
economically very poor. People of the district depend for their livelihood on subsistence
jhum/shifting cultivation. Mhainamtsi also called the pineapple village under IWDP Peren-I
was sanctioned during 2005-06. The area earmarked for the watershed development was
500 hectares. It is located at a distance of 30 km from the district headquarter, Peren. It is
predominantly inhabited by Zeliang and Rongmei tribes. The village has a total of 236
households. The literacy rate is relatively very low (33%). The main occupation of the
inhabitants is agriculture.
Problem statement:
The major constraint facing the village is the landuse pattern. Shifting cultivation being a part
and parcel of the socio-economic life of the villagers, inspite of its adverse effects on the
ecosystem and productivity, is still practiced. “Community Lands” which is often considered
as free resources by the population, leads to overexploitation and degradation. The area
receives high rainfall but erratic in distribution and high intensity of rainfall which compacts
and reduces the chances of infiltration. Due to continuous shifting cultivation and premature
cycle, the NPK ratio has declined which has ultimately resulted in alteration of soil microorganism.
The system of “free grazing” during the winter months was the principal factor for
the failure of any plantation in the past. Further the traditional practice of burning jungles in
the dry seasons which is predominantly practiced within the district was one of the limiting
factors.
Objectives and Methodology
Considering the above situation the programme was implemented with the objective to
increase productivity of the land, to increase the water table in the area, to utilize the jhum
lands on a sustainable manner through better agro-forestry practices and there-by promote
overall economic development, reduce migration and restore the ecological balance and
overall environmental improvement.
Within the project area, several activities were undertaken as per the land capability,
suitability and the actual needs of the project area. These activities are afforestation,
plantation of horticultural crops and cash crops, drainage line treatment by vegetative and
engineering structures, development of small water harvesting structures, land development,
in-situ soil and moisture conservation measures-bunding and vegetative barriers.
Photo 1. A view of the contour bund made under the
project
Photo 2. A view of the water harvesting
structure developed in the project area
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