The Assam government’s restriction on transportation of live pigs through the state, citing African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak in some parts of the country, once again exposed Nagaland’s over dependence on other states for pork, though it is dubbed as one of the favourite meats of the Nagas. While restricting the passage of healthy pigs was unfortunate despite the federal structure of governance, as free flow of trade and goods is essential for economic prosperity, the helplessness of the state in meeting its own needs is a matter of concern. A similar scenario was witnessed not long ago when the state government banned fish and crustaceans laced with formalin or those treated with other forms of chemical preservatives, citing ill-effects on health. What does the consequence of such bans tell about the state’s economy? It simply tells that the state has a long way to go before attaining self-sufficiency. Sadly, pork and fish are not the only items the state relies on its counterparts for. The people, especially in urban areas like Dimapur and Kohima heavily depend on other states for most food items, including chicken, rice, vegetable, fruits, milk, and many other basic goods. This is despite Nagaland being an agrarian economy with about 70 per cent of the population primarily dependent on farming for livelihood. If the state cannot produce enough for its own consumption, to become a major exporter of agricultural products is another thing all together, and will be an uphill climb.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]Meanwhile, the acute shortage of food items felt in the urban areas whenever supply chain is disrupted in the neighbouring states can be taken as a blessing in disguise and an eye-opener, as well as a stark reminder of the state’s inability to meet its own needs despite repeated calls to boost production. The people of the state can take solace in the fact that many countries too have been pushed to focus on self-reliance after being gripped by the acute food crisis following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This challenge should encourage the people of the state to not only strive for self-reliance but also improve quality of life by significantly increasing productivity. The state will prosper only when it boosts exports- not from the bare minimum produced by farmers but from the surplus. It’s high time to implement the resilience strategies and scientific knowledge shared by experts and government agencies to avoid cascading ripple effect of supply disruption, which the state has been facing every now and then. It’s time to put words into action- boost productivity.