Governor PB Acharya with Lucy Ngullie Thomas at Police guest house, Chumukedima on August 29.[/caption]
Dimapur, Aug. 31 (EMN): State governor, PB Acharya, has suggested constituting Governor’s Award of INR 1 lakh to hardworking and committed agriculture entrepreneurs in the state.
The idea struck Acharya after meeting Lucy Ngully Thomas, an educated agricultural entrepreneur, at police guest house, Chumukedima, on August 29. Governor said he would meet the officials from horticulture department and discuss the issue so that entrepreneurs in the likes of Lucy are encouraged and acknowledged.
Acharya, who is a keen advocate of organic fruits and vegetables, was impressed with the hardworking and commitment of Lucy Ngully Thomas, proprietor of dream dragon fruit farm. He lauded Lucy for taking up farming with dedication and being the only dragon fruit cultivator on commercial basis from the entire Northeast.
After learning about the health benefits of the fruit, the governor encouraged all marginal farmers to plant at least three dragon fruit vines.
Sharing her experiences as a farmer, Lucy Ngullie Thomas, an Arts graduate, told the governor that her passion towards farming made her to take up dragon fruit cultivation since 2013.
Explaining on the numerous medicinal values of dragon fruits besides high returns, Lucy felt that more farmers should take up dragon fruit cultivation. She said Dimapur is the best place for cultivating the fruit.
She informed that India produces just 1 percent of the fruit and for which it becomes expensive when it reaches the market. Blessed with fertile land and perfect climate, Lucy felt that Naga farmers need to cultivate the fruit as it has very high medicinal values as well as high market demand.
Lucy handed over a box of her fruits to the governor.