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Our Correspondent
Kohima, May 19 (EMN): Minister of Planning and Coordination, Land Revenue and Parliamentary Affairs and also the government spokesperson, Neiba Kronu has pitched for transforming Nagaland into 'Land of coffee and honey.'
Interacting with media persons on Tuesday, Kronu has stressed on the need to promote 'naturally grown' products that are of ‘low volume with high value.’
"We can do it and I am confident" that it is a gateway of promoting tourism industry, he said.
According to Kronu, Nagaland receives enough rainfall and with youngest soil in the world it has the potential to produce A and B grade coffee. He said there are so many things that Nagaland could offer to the world. He also maintained that coffee plantation produces more oxygen. He went on to add that honey bee pollination increases crop production for about 25 percent.
Besides advocating for production of coffee and honey, the minister maintained that areca nuts and black pepper are some areas of production that could boost the economy of farmers.
With the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic, the minister has encouraged striving for self-sufficiency in food production without depending on central government assistance.
Stressing on the need to regain the state economy, the minister stated that an economic strategic group, headed by the chief minister, has been constituted and is working on modalities for delivery.
The minister also pointed out to the prevalence of syndicate system and manipulation by outsiders is affecting the supply chain as well as the farming sector despite the huge quantity of production. In this regard, he stated that the government is giving more efforts to tap the local production and elevate them to a new level.
In order to upscale and encourage farming, Kronu informed that the government would initiate setting up cold storages on priority. Besides, he has stressed on farming under poly-house (green house) stating that farming under such system could be practiced throughout the year.
Emphasising on entrepreneurship, Kronu further stated that Nagaland economy would go from bad to worst "even if we give job to all the unemployed persons.’