A farmer earns INR 50K to INR 60K per year from 40 plants, supports children’s education
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Naga tree tomato fruit. (EM Images)[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Kohima, March 29 (EMN): Nagaland may be rich in vegetation but the number of registrations for the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for products from the state is negligible with only three (products) being given the tag till date. Data from the Geographical Indications Registry has confirmed that only three products, namely Naga Mircha, Naga Tree Tomato and Chakshesang Shawl have received GI tag.
Principal Secretary for the department of Horticulture MK Mero said during a workshop on post GI of Naga tree tomato held at Hotel Japfü, in Kohima on March 29 that the farmers in the state are not really developing it into a commercial product despite getting the tag. So, he urged the people to promote and increase the production of tree tomato in order to expand its market.
Naga tree tomato, one of the exotic agricultural products of the state, was granted Geographical Indication (GI) tag during April 2014 – March 2015 under certification number 374.
While informing that GI tag can be obtained for products that are found in a particular region, Mero said the government is trying to push more products and crops such as Mokokchung cucumber, wild apple etc. for the tag and products like pineapple, large cardamom, and king chilli are being pushed for organic items. Unless products are registered as organic crop, it cannot be used as label, he added.
He urges organisations, societies, and agencies to come forward and seek GI registration for products found in the state, saying that it is not the duty of the government to seek for the tag. He also suggested the farmers to form Farmer Producer’ Organisation (FPO) for tree tomato and announced that cargo facility is expecting in Dimapur very soon.
Tree tomato farmer Puno Yhokha of Kigwema village shared her first-hand experience as well as the benefits of planting the fruit at the workshop organised by the North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Limited (NERAMAC), a government enterprise under the Ministry of DoNER. More than 100 farmers participated in the workshop.
The 69-year-old farmer revealed that she earns INR 50,000 to INR 60,000 per year by selling fruits from 40 tree tomato plants in her garden as well as from sales of its sapling and seeds, enabling her to meet the educational expenses, including admission and uniform of her children.
Speaking about the historical background of tree tomato in Nagaland, deputy director of Horticulture, Jerry Patton said that it existed since time immemorial; regarded as one of the traditional food items of the people and is ‘well established’ and ‘distributed all over the hills of Nagaland.’ He added that it is grown in the district of Kohima, Wokha, Zunheboto, Kiphire, Tuensang, Mon, Phek and Zunheboto.
Patton said that the department has proposed 200 hectares of land in the state to plant tree tomato and Naga king chilli.
Pointing out the medicinal values of the fruit through visual presentation, the deputy director said it controls high blood pressure and reduces cholesterol levels. He added that it has several nutritional elements like moisture, protein, carbohydrate, fat (ether extract), fibre, nitrogen, ash, calcium, phosphorous, iron, carotene, Vitamin A & C, thiamine, riboflavin and ascorbic acid.
He informed that best season to plant tree tomato is between May and September.
Agriculture Inspector Mhalevilie Thorie explained that tree tomato grows well in the sub-tropical climate and flourishes in places that receive an annual rainfall between 600 mm – 4000 mm; which is within the radar of Nagaland as it gets an average annual rainfall ranging from 1800 mm to 2500 mm. He went on to say that it starts bearing fruit after three years and continues till 12 years with adequate manure; grows up to 10 to 18 feet in height; and a single tree can produce 20kg of fruits per year.
District Agricultural Officer, Kohima, Bodevi Shuya informed that a total of 650 farmers have been registered under the Famer Producer’s Organisation. Event coordinator of NERAMAC Archita Sarma informed that the government of India had started promoting the products of various regions through GI outlets that were inaugurated at airports in January this year.
Naga Mircha (Naga Morich) was the first product to receive the GI tag- during April 2008 - March 2009 under application number 109, followed by Naga Tree Tomato which got the tag during April 2014 –March 2015 under application number 374. The third product is Chakhesang Shawl, which received the tag during April 2018 - March 2018 under application number 542.
Geographical Indication (GI) tag that lasts for ten years and can be renewed on its expiry shows specific geographical origin besides quality assurance by virtue of its location. It also ensures that the popular product name is used by only those registered as authorised users.
