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The Horticulture establishment has given a van to an entrepreneurial group called Zatara Pvt. Ltd. in Dimapur.[/caption]
Dimapur, Aug. 31 (EMN): The department of Horticulture handed over a Reefer Van to an entrepreneurial group called Zatara Pvt. Ltd. besides signing a memorandum with it during a programme that was conducted on August 31 at the state horticulture nursery in Dimapur.
The government publicity agency, the department of Information and Public Relations (IPR), issued on Saturday updates about the programme.
The principal secretary for Horticulture MK Mero expressed regret that farmers in Nagaland are not able to market their agricultural and horticulture produce due to lack of proper facilities. He felt that refrigerating vans are needed to preserve and keep the agriculture produce fresh.
Mero was hopeful that the group would utilise the van for the best interest of farmers and also for its group. He handed over the keys of the van to Apong Longkumer, chief executive officer of Zatara.
The director for Horticulture, Dr. Elithung Lotha also said that the department decided to give the van to the Zatara CEO as he had been one of the most successful entrepreneurs in Nagaland who has been successfully trading in ‘Raja chili’ produce for more than five years.
“Lotha said that Apong has links with the farming community and works in tandem with them and was confident that he will help the farmers in transporting the perishable fruits and vegetables,” the IPR stated.
Lotha said further that the department could not focus on marketing for several years. However, realising the need for marketing and market linkages the department purchased the refrigerating vans to help entrepreneurs, the updates stated.
The CEO of Zatara was also quoted as having said that he incurred losses many a times as ‘raja chillies’ were being transported in Tata mobiles from different districts and were highly perishable.
He said that the van has been an answer to all his problems and thanked the department of Horticulture for providing him the much needed facility, the IPR added.
