The programme was organised by the World Vision India, Mon Area Development Programme.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Murry thanked World Vision India for organising the festival and also for initiating various development activities in the district.
He said that in order to build up capacity building and to develop the skills of the farmers, Nagaland government under the dynamic leadership of Rio has decided to declare the year 2009 as the Year of the Festival and has further extended the Year of Capacity Building for another year in the state.
Deeply impressed by the Yam mela, the chief guest said that with the initiative of the young talented Naga officers and technicians, the traditional method of farming has been diverted to modern and advanced methods of farming.
He exhorted the farmers to cultivate the old method with new technology. He also appealed to the farmers to explore and utilise the God-gifted potential for growth and development of the rural economy.
Chairman of MARCOFED and DPDB Mon, C L John, in his speech stressed on varieties of food items made from Yam and said that Yam is an important food component of the Konyak people which is consumed throughout the year in various preparations using preservative method.
While appreciating the various developments in Mon area, he called upon the World Vision India to expand their mission to the entire district for further development of the people.
Short speeches were delivered by Stevenson Lhongsngi, associate director, PMO Guwahati, World Vision India, B P Bhatt, joint director at ICAR Jarnapani, Dimapur, M Zhasa, IFS, Commissioner and Secretary, Agriculture, Nagaland, S V Ngachan, director at ICAR Res. Comp. for NEH Region, and H Yeinei, VDB secretary, Leanghah village.
The opening and closing remarks were proposed by the Deputy Commissioner of Mon, Dinesh Kumar, IAS, while the welcome address was pronounced by Samuel Therieh, programme manager for World Vision, Mon ADP.
Distribution of annual gifts to sponsored children, first-aid kits to community health workers (ASHAs), prize distribution to the winners of the festival and poem recitation by Manao, a sponsored child , Lampong Sheanghah village, were the other highlights of the programme.
Varieties of Yam species, other root foods and indigenous foods were displayed for sale and exhibition during the festival. Farmers from twenty villages under Mon division participated in the yam mela. Later in the evening, the Minister also inaugurated NAIP Project on livelihood improvement and empowerment of rural poor through sustainable farming system in North East India, which is being implemented at Lampong Sheanghah village.