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Governor PB Acharya receiving a gift from the farmers.[/caption]
Dimapur, Oct. 14 (EMN): Governor PB Acharya has underscored the need to create a cooperative movement for farmers in Nagaland in order to market their produce.
According to a Raj Bhavan statement on Sunday, Acharya shared this concern recently while hosting a dinner for farmers of Kohima district who represented by members of the “Farmer Producers Organisation (FPO).”
“...governor said that Northeast states in general and Nagaland in particular is blessed with favourable climatic conditions for vegetable cultivation. He stressed the need for creating cooperative movement, which only can help farmers in marketing their produce. Producer-customer link is missing. Organic produce should be marketed in a systematic way to double the income of farmers. He stressed the need to make favourable policy to help our farmers,” it stated.
The governor further assured to donate INR two lacs to the FPO to facilitate the purchase of a pick-up van for transportation of the harvest to the market.
The president of FPO, Keghaselie K Kuoku informed Acharya that Kohima district was divided into four blocks ‘for convenience’ where 85 Self Help Groups were functional for the benefit of farmers. “There are altogether 1091 farmers registered with Kohima District Farmer Producers Organisation (FPO) which is registered under Cooperative Societies Act in Nagaland. From time to time, exposure trips for the farmers to outside states are sponsored by the department of Horticulture and Agriculture.
“Every year FPO takes part in exhibition-cum-sales of agri produce during the festivals and important functions. This year, 18 progressive farmers of FPO got training in modern nursery management under Skill India Mission at Central Institute of Horticulture, Medziphema. In 2016, FPO organised Kohima district-level women farmers’ forum conference at Kohima with the assistance of Agriculture department. In the year 2017, FPO again organised Nagaland state women farmers’ conference at Kohima with the assistance of Horticulture department,” he informed.
Kuoku also highlighted the difficulties faced by Kohima district farmers, especially in transportation and marketing of agricultural produce. He also thanked the governor for convening and hosting the dinner for the farmers.
In return, the farmers presented the governor with some of their organic produce during the event.
