Our Reporter
Dimapur, June 26 (EMN): Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW), Narendra Singh Tomar on Sunday stated that Nagaland is rich in the horticulture sector, and its products have the potential to be exported outside Nagaland.
However, farmers should ensure to produce enough quantity of quality products according to global standards to achieve that, he said, and added that if the products are good, they will get a good price, which would improve their living conditions.
Tomar was speaking at the inauguration of a Farmers’ Exhibition-cum-Workshop at Central Institute of Horticulture, Medziphema, Chümoukedima on Sunday.
He stated that the state government should also increase the income of farmers through high value crops, connecting and bringing new technology to the farmers through institutions.
Tomar also lauded the efforts of the CIH in improving the horticulture sector in Nagaland and state government for ‘doing enough in the agriculture sector and also bringing development in the state’.
He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working to ensure that the state government receives adequate funds to increase the income through implementation of modern technology and scientific agriculture.
He said the Northeast has remained neglected for long, ‘even though the region is good but not devoid of obstacles, and because of that many times the projects and schemes of the Government of India have not reached the farmers at the grassroots level’.
‘But now, the Prime Minister has given special focus on the Northeast, on the funding and implementation of the schemes,’ he said.
Meanwhile, Advisor for Horticulture and Border Affairs, Mhathung Yanthan said that farming, being extremely vulnerable to climate change, which puts food security at great risk, they need to understand the impacts better and evolve strategies to mitigate and adapt the effect of climate change especially on the cropping system.
Yanthan also expressed gratitude on behalf of the state to the Ministry for the continued support towards the welfare of the farmers with various programmes and schemes. Through these programmes, the state is witnessing a steep rise in the rural economy and improvement in the quality of life especially in the farming community, he said.
He went on to say that through the initiative of the department of Horticulture, the state has three geographical indication (GI) registered crops namely Naga tree tomato, Naga King chilli and Naga cucumber. He further requested the Ministry to promote these unique crops for marketing not only within but also outside the country in order to create avenues for the farmers and young entrepreneurs.
With enormous scope and potential for Agri/Horti crops in the NE, the advisor suggested that a mega package plan laden with scientific technology could be prepared engaging the service of top experts from the field to achieve productivity at par with the neighbouring countries and developing a strong value chain of products, for which technological support from the Central Govt. may extended to the region
He also requested the Union Minister to look into the matter regarding the CIH’s merger with the National Horticulture Board.
“Once it is merged with the National Horticulture Board, the very purpose and objective of setting up this institution would be diluted,” he said and urged the decision to be reviewed.
He added that the state government had also provided land to the tune of 43 hectares to establish this institution and a lot of infrastructure and development has taken place, while the state has accrued a lot of benefit through this centre.
Tomar assured that “no institute under the Indian Council of Research would go anywhere” and that the Central Institute of Horticulture would remain where it is and the Centre would provide adequate funds for its improvement.
Yanthan also suggested that since CIH has the infrastructure and has gained a micro-level experience in research and development, it may be upgraded to Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for development of horticulture in the region.
Later, the Union Minister also visited the ICAR-National Research Centre on Mithun, Nagaland. He said that mithun is a unique bioresource of Northeast India and it is everyone's responsibility to conserve it.
Tomar also applauded the efforts of the institute for transforming mithun farming by creating interest in mithun farmers and raising their incomes. He stressed on the need of carrying out further research on the use of mithun to benefit farmers.
He urged the institute to take up research to explore the nutritional and therapeutic properties of milk and develop a business model. Further, the fertilising capacity of mithun dung and urine has to be explored to adopt natural farming, he added.
The minister also visited the pineapple farm at Molvom village, under MOCVD-NER and also inaugurated the foundation stone of KVK Dimapur administrative building at ICAR, Jharnapani Centre, followed by interaction with staff members, farmers and entrepreneurs.