Phek District was bifurcated in 1973 from Kohima district. It lies in the South-East of Nagaland, bounded by Kohima District in the West, Zunheboto and Kiphire Districts in the North, Myanmar in the South East and Manipur State in the South. The name of the district Phek is derived from the word "Phekrekedze" meaning watch tower. Earlier it was a part of Kohima district, but separated as a district on December 21, 1973. The district inhabited by the Chakhesangs and Pochurys tribes of Mongoloid race. The word "Chakhesang" an amalgamation of the names of three sub-tribes - "cha" from "Chokri", "khe" from "Chesham (Kuzha)" and "Sang" from "Sangtam (Pochury)". The medium of communication with others are mainly Tenyidie and Nagamese, however among the elderly people, Tenyidie is still a convenient language to communicate. There are three main linguistic groups in the Phek such as Chokri with a population of 95,576, Khezha with a population of 34,363 and Pochury with a population of 18,307 making total population of  1,48,246(2001 census). The accent difference varies from village to village even among these three linguistic groups. For an example, even among the Pochury speaking group, there are at least eight different dialects which varies from one village to another.

Phek is a hilly district rich in flora and fauna. There are three important rivers namely Tizu, Lanye, and Sedzu and three important lakes called Shilloi, Chida and Dzudu. Summer is moderately warm and winter is cold. Monsoon sets in by the last week of May and retreats by the end of September. Agriculture is the main occupation with 80.84 % of the population engaged in agriculture. Terrace Rice Cultivation (TRC) is predominant. Besides agriculture people engage in salt making (in Meluri area) weaving, bamboo and wood carving, and in making fruit juice.

The National Highway No.150 crosses certain part of the District from Kohima to Jessami (under Manipur, on the way to Meluri) and N.H.155 from Jessami to Tuensang via Meluri, Akhegwo and Kiphire. The only Cement factory in the State, i.e. Weziho Cement Factory, which can produce 150 TPD, is in Meluri Sub-Division. Decorative Stone Factory is now in function at Weziho. Most of the village are linked with electricity.

Natural flowing Brine water is available in about 7 villages of the district. The locally baked salt; as per medical experts is goiter-free and is good for health. Even Brine can be kept in stock in quantity for sale in the market. There are other small-scale industries, like basket making and different weaving centers which can bring sustainable development to small entrepreneurs of the district. These small-scale industries need to be modernized with modern scientific machineries to make it recurrent income generating industries. Phek District is regarded as the richest areas of mineral deposits such as limestone, Decorative marbles, Crystallized, etc.

Position in relation to longitude and latitude :

Longitude: 940- 35’- 18” to 940- 38’-09” E (L)

Latitude : 250 -37’-37” to 250-39’-47” N (LT)

Altitude from MSL

Highest-2133 m MSL (Pfutsero)

Lowest-520 m MSL (Lanyie)

Boundaries of your district :

E: Kiphre/Myanmar W: Kohima N: Zunheboto/Kiphre S: Manipur NE: Kiphre SE: Manipur SW: Manipur NW: Zonobhoto & Myanmar

Total population :

1,48,246 (2001 census)

Area of the district :

2026 sq.km

Population density :

73 person/sqkm

Literacy percentage :

71.35%

Status of agriculture :

Rain fed and shifting

Farmers :

40315

Farm Labour mobility :

Minimum

Block wise information :

Demographic of Phek

Sl. No	Name of the Block	Population (as per 2001 census. Total)	% of literacy	Male (No)	Female (No)
1	Phek	26392	71.35	13787	12605
2	Kikruma	31812	71.35	16497	15315
3	Pfutsero	41455	71.35	21322	20133
4	Meluri	20872	71.35	11028	9844
5	Sekrezu	27715	71.35	14448	13267
	Total	148246	71.35	77082	71164

Source : SREP, ATMA, Phek

No of Agriculture worker

Sl. No.	Name of the Block	Worker Nos.				Categories No.
		Agri		Non-agri		SC	ST	OBC	General
		Male	Female	Male	Female
1	Phek	11775	11993	2012	612	Nil	ST	Nil	Nil
2	Kikruma	11045	14887	1560	428	Nil	ST	Nil	Nil
3	Pfutsero	18808	19493	2514	640	Nil	ST	Nil	Nil
4	Meluri	10369	9485	659	359	Nil	ST	Nil	Nil
5	Sekrezu	12556	12446	1892	821
Total		64551	68304	8637	2860	Nil	ST	Nil	Nil

Source : SREP, ATMA, Phek

Pattern of rainfall in different months (Provide as high, medium or low)

Jan.	Feb.	Mar.	April.	May.	Jun.	Jul.	Aug.	Sept.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
low	low	low	medium	High	High	High	High	High	medium	low	low

Critical periods for plant growth in Phek

Sl.No	Crop	Critical period of growth	Coinciding Calendar month (s)
1	Paddy	Tillering and Panicle stage	Aug-Sept
2	Maize	Tasselling stage	May- June
4	Soyabean	Flowering stage	Aug-sept
5	Naga dal	Flowering stage	April-May
6	Cow pea	Flowering stage	April-May
7	Kholar bean	Flowering stage	April-May
8	Passion fruit	Flowering stage	April-may, November-Dec
9	Pear	Flowering stage	April-May
10	Peach	Flowering stage	Feb-March
11	Banana	Initiation of  bunch	Nov-Dec
12	Guava	Flowering stage	Mar-April, Sept-Oct
13	Plum	Flowering stage	Feb-March
14	Cabbage	Head formation	May-July, Nov-Jan
16	Local garlic	Bulb formation	Oct-Nov
17	Ginger	Rhizome formation	Oct-Nov

Soils : Classes of the soil groups present in the district Phek:

            1. Black soil:               36468ha

            2. Red soil:                  24312 ha

            3. Alluvial soil:            18234ha

            4. Sandy soils:             6078ha

5. Red laterite soil:      117508 ha

Soil fertility status (in general) : Medium

Irrigation

Area under Irrigation                       :           15450 ha

Irrigation potential                           :           20000 ha                                            

Source of Irrigation

            1. Rivers                                         :           5 nos.

            2. Tanks                                         :           96 nos.

            3. Open wells                                 :           Nil                                                      

4. Bore wells                                  :           Nil

            5. Any other Sources (Lake)           :           3 nos

 Land use and cropping intensity

            Gross cropped area                        :           44870  ha                                           

            Net Area sown                               :           42950  ha                                           

Fallow lands                                   :           NA                             

Cultivable waste lands                     :           38630  ha

Forest cover                                   :           56589  ha

Barren Land                                   :           NA                                         

Cropping intensity                           :           120%              

Socio-economic Characteristics, Land holding Pattern

Average size of land holdings           :           3.88 ha                                                           

Average fragmentation intensity        :          2-3 nos

Existing land tenure for farming         :           3-6 yrs                        

Source(s) of finance for farming	Rank.1 SBI-5nos Rank.2 State Cooperative Bank-3 nos Rank.3 Nagaland Rural- 2 nos
Main source of income for farmers	Rank.1 Agriculture                  Rank.2 Livestock
Commercial commodities produced	Rank.1 Ginger Rank.2 Large cardamom Rank 3. Cabbage Rank 4. Passion fruit Rank 5. Plum

Farm Machinery and implements available in Phek

Number of tractors	8 nos
Number of Power Tillers	95  nos
Number of Carts	Nil nos
Types of implements- ploughs	240 nos
Cultivators	103 nos
Discs	28 nos
Harrows	8 nos
Others	Nil nos
Pumps (oil and electrical)	Nil
Harvesters and Threshers	Thresher- 1892
Sprayers and Dusters	520 nos

Agro-climatic Zones

            Zones in Nagaland state        

1. Sub Alpine temperate zone (1500-3500m MSL)
2. Sub tropical Hill Zone (1000-1500m MSL)
3. Sub tropical Plain zone (400-1000m MSL)
4. Mild tropical Hill zone (200-800m MSL)

Agro-climatic Zones in Phek 

1. Sub Alpine temperate zone (1500-3500m MSL)
2. Sub tropical Hill Zone (1000-1500m MSL)
3. Mild tropical Hill zone (200-800m MSL)

Tradition, cultural and social identity of the district in brief:

The Chakhesangs and Pochurys are known for their rich cultures and traditions. There are varieties of traditional attires and ornaments. The melodies folk songs and the lively folk dances are feast for the ears and eyes. The people are expert craftsmen and excellent in making pots, baskets, sculptures and furniture. The society is patrimonial but women enjoy a high status in their families. The customary laws are unwritten but practiced by all villages. These laws are binding to members of the society and are being passed on from generation to generation by the words of mouth. The elderly people of the village decide and pass the judgment on disputes and matters concerning the village.

Festivals observed in Phek District

Phek is land of festivals, one festival celebrated after other round the year. The main inhabitant, chakhesang have one of the most beautiful culture and festivals in the state. The festival revolves around agriculture which is the important source of income to the most of the people of the district. Those who hold prestigious status in the community such as brave warriors and persons who could arrange feast of merit are looked up and honoured. These people earn the beautiful and symbolic shawl and their houses are decorated with horns in front and at the back. The villages have slight difference of timing for festivals due to climatic conditions, yet the reason and the mode of festivals are basically same. The following festivals are celebrated one after the other through out the year.

Folk dance of Chakhesang tribe

Khuthonye (July): It is celebrated during July after completion of the terraced field cultivations. The farmers work and toil hard for a month to procure a year provisions. Having completed the work of cultivation everyone poor or rich eat and drink heartily to regain the lost energies. This is also a time for harvesting millet therefore coinciding with Khuthonye the millet festival, "CHUNYE" is also celebrated.

Turhinye (August): This is a festival with the objective of preserving the crops from wild animals which may destroy the labours and their hard work. During this festival community work such as repairing, cleaning of roads and their village paths are done before the festival. It is celebrated during the month of August.

Thurinye (December): This festival is celebrated in December, after all the harvest, when the granaries are full of grain. A chaste bachelor has to perform a ceremonial rite called "MUDZU", wherein a spotless piglet will be killed first. This will be followed by the rest of the villagers killing their own domestic animals and start the feast. People are jubilant they offer thanks to the Gods for protecting their crops from sowing to the stage of harvest.

Sukrunye (January): It is celebrated during the middle of January. Of all the festivals it is the most important because it is the ceremony to ensure good health of the community during the coming year. The main highlight of the festival is "SUKRU" meant for the menfolk. It implies the sanctification of the young boys. Earlier in the morning all menfolk visit the village spring, where they wash themselves, their weapons and tools and cloth in fresh water before any animals touch the water. They believe all misfortunes and physical ailments have been washed away. On return, every male who is old enough to do so kills an unblemished cock, but it must be killed by throttling it with his hand only. Thus, it stretches to days of celebration by feasting, dancing and singing through out the day and night till dawn.

Ngunye (February): This festival falls in February. It is a festival for rejoicing where traditional games and sports are played. It is marked with singing indigenous songs, folk dances and wrestling. People from all khels march in procession in their traditional attires.

Tukhanye (April): This is the last festival celebrated during April. This festival marks the beginning of the yearly routine of hard work cultivation. Now that all the festivals are over the people are not at rest. They become more active for the cultivation activities. The Chakhesang people celebrate festivals from 1 to 11 days with outmost gaiety. People put on new cloth and decorate themselves with priceless traditional ornaments. They eat and drink and have a sense of hospitality far beyond his resources. Participation of men and women is the most prominent feature. They sing songs, dance and recite about their ancestor's meritorious velour and participate in the festival with a sense of unity and equality. The chakhesang has many peculiarities among them, Muchi ( Yelling), Dothi ( High Kicking), Kunu ( Wrestling), Kutsushu ( Stone Pulling Monolith) etc. are of the peculiar features of this area.

Agricultural marketing system:

Marketing of agriculture produce of some of the village is done by APMC. But due to remoteness and poor connectivity of roads to urban areas the department is unable to market the produce of majority of the villages. Marketing of village produce is mostly done by the farmers themselves.

Table 1. Ways of disposal of farm produce and by products

Sl.No	Major Farm produce	Marketing channel	Bye Product (if any)	Marketing channel
1	Paddy	Not Marketed	Rice police & broken rice	Use as Pig feed
2	Maize	Self marketing	No	NA
3	Cabbage	Self marketing	No	NA
4	Large cardamom	APMC	No	NA
5	Ginger	APMC	No	NA
6	Passion fruit	APMC	No	NA
7.	Plum	Self marketing	No	NA
8.	Peach	Self marketing	No	NA
9.	Pear	Self marketing	No	NA
10.	Apple	Self marketing	No	NA

 

Table 2. Information regarding markets for the district PHEK

Sl. No.	Name of the block	Name of the market centre	Periodicity (Weekly/ Daily)	Important commodi-ties handled	Commodity wise quantity handled (Annual)	Area covered
1	Phek	Phek Town	Daily	Groceries, Vegetables, Fish, Meats etc.	Not assessed	Phek district
2	Kikruma	Kikruma Town	Weekly	Groceries, Vegetables, Fish, Meats etc.	Not assessed	Kikruma Block
3	Pfütsero	Pfütsero market	Seasonal/ Daily	Vegetables & fruits	Not assessed	Pfütsero Block
4	Meluri	Meluri  Town	Roadside daily market	Groceries, Vegetables, Fish, Meats etc.	Not assessed	Meluri Block
5	Sekrezu	Sukrezu Town				Sukrezu Block