Temjen Imna Along speaking at the 4th Cucumber Festival in
Aliba village on Thursday.
- ALIBA — Minister
for Tourism and Higher Education, Temjen Imna Along, on Thursday declared that
the prosperity, unity, and progressive mindset of Nagaland’s villages are the
key to the state’s overall advancement.
- He made the remark during an address as the special guest at
the 4th Cucumber Festival in Aliba village, Mokokchung district.
- Emphasising that “Nagaland is a land of villages, our
farmers are our backbone, and villagers are our heritage,” the minister lauded
Aliba’s cucumber farmers for their landmark achievement, which has earned the
village a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
- Congratulating the farmers, Aliba Village Council, and the
Agri & Allied department for their dedication, Along said, “The GI-tagged
Aliba cucumber is a proud product of Nagaland, and your hard work has made the
state shine.”
- He announced that the Cucumber Festival has become an
itinerary in Nagaland’s tourism festival and urged the organisers to set a
tentative annual date to facilitate planning for tourists and the Tourism
department.
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- “Under Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s leadership, our
opposition-less government prioritises agriculture, with policies like ‘One
Village, One Product’,” he said, adding that Aliba has fulfilled this vision
with its cucumbers.
- Along minister urged the farmers to boost productivity
beyond last season’s yield while maintaining organic standards, in
collaboration with Agri & Allied department.
- Addressing a broader challenge, Along noted that Nagas often
imitate others without acquiring the necessary knowledge and skills, hindering
success. “To prosper, we must learn from experts and work with line
departments,” he advised, stressing the importance of skill-building for
sustainable growth.
- The minister later inaugurated the Tungden Ki (Traditional
Log Drum House) and toured festival stalls, engaging with farmers.
- Advisor for Agriculture Mhathung Yanthan hailed the Cucumber
Festival as a celebration not just of a crop but of resilience, unity, and
visionary innovation, emphasising that “the future lies in innovation.”
- Speaking as the guest of honour at the festival, Yanthan
praised Aliba’s off-season cucumber cultivation for transforming agriculture
into a movement of prosperity and identity.
- “The Cucumber Festival is more than a platform for
showcasing and selling produce—it unites farmers, entrepreneurs, policymakers,
and consumers to appreciate the potential of our land and people,” Yanthan
said.
- He lauded Aliba’s farmers for achieving economic prosperity
through their GI-tagged off-season cucumbers, which have become a symbol of
agricultural transformation. “Aliba’s cucumbers respect our biodiversity and
promote sustainable practices, setting a model for Nagaland and beyond,” he added,
urging other communities to replicate this success.
- Addressing the youth, Yanthan encouraged them to draw
inspiration from their elders and expand Aliba’s legacy through innovative
commercial production. “We must not remain stagnant. Blend traditional
knowledge with modern technology to upgrade our agricultural practices,” he
said.
- Temjentola, Secretary of the Festival Organising Committee,
shared that the festival saw greater participation this year, with 75 farmers
opting for off-season cucumber cultivation, leading to expanded production
areas.
- “We expect a significantly higher yield than previous
years,” she said, noting that the festival alone harvested 6 to 7 metric tonnes
of cucumbers.
