Kohima: Entrepreneurs Associates (EA), a leading NGO based in Nagaland, is all set to launch ‘Trees for Wealth’, a movement to plant not just trees but fruit trees in the state and make it the ‘fruit hub of India.’

The movement will be launched on Friday evening at Hotel Vivor in Kohima, informed Neichute Doulo, CEO of EA, at a press conference on Thursday. Doulo added that the initiative is an attempt towards promoting rural economy, besides making a contribution in tackling climate change.

Native fruits like persimmon, walnut, chestnut, hazelnut, pears, peach, guava, lemon, avocado, plums, Naga apple and so on, will be grown in a large scale by local farmers. Farmers, through this movement, will also be trained to produce and commercialise their goods.

Why fruit trees and not just trees?

Based on the experiments of the EA since 2006, farmers zealously planted and protected fruit trees from being felled as it became the ‘money tree’. In addition, Doulo added that although Nagaland’s temperate climate is capable of yielding native fruit trees, better species of the fruit saplings will be given to farmers in order to commercialise the produce not only in the local market but also at the regional market.