Aizawl: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has been working to support tribal communities in Mizoram through its TRIBES (Tribal Resilience Initiative for Building Environmentally Sustainable Livelihoods) projects. These projects aim to improve livelihoods, promote sustainable agriculture, and address environmental concerns specific to the region.
The NABARD Mizoram Regional Office has sanctioned 13 TRIBES projects, with seven already completed and six ongoing. A total of ₹1,899 lakhs has been sanctioned for these projects, and ₹1,694 lakhs have been disbursed. The projects focus on growing crops such as orange, mango, litchi, arecanut, papaya, banana, turmeric, garden pea, and pineapple.
For landless farmers, piggery and poultry units have been introduced as alternative livelihood options. These projects are being implemented by Project Facilitating Agencies (PFAs) such as NEIDA, World Vision India – CADP, CODNERC, and Angel Business Promoters of Mizoram, with district-level monitoring by NABARD officials and consultants.
The TRIBES projects cover seven districts—Aizawl, Champhai, Khawzawl, Lunglei, Lawngtlai, Mamit, and Serchhip—spanning 90 villages. According to officials, the projects have brought over 3,500 acres of land under sustainable cultivation, boosting agricultural productivity and benefiting over 19,250 families.
In Mizoram, where shifting cultivation (locally known as jhumming) has been a traditional farming practice, the TRIBES initiative is working towawrds introducing sustainable farming practices and alternative livelihood options. This approach aims to improve agricultural productivity while addressing environmental challenges.
The TRIBES initiative aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as reducing poverty, ensuring food security, promoting sustainable agriculture, and combating climate change. By offering alternatives to forest-based livelihoods, the initiative seeks to help tribal families reduce their dependence on forest resources, added the official.
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