Nagaland sends first Zanthoxylum consignment to Dabur

KOHIMA — Nagaland took a significant step towards commercialising its bio-resources on Saturday as the first consignment of Zanthoxylum (Michinga/Tomar) seeds was flagged off from Kohima to Dabur India Limited’s northeast unit in Tezpur, Assam—signalling a new market linkage for one of the state’s most widely used traditional spices.

The shipment, facilitated under a buy-back partnership between Nagaland Bio Resource Mission (NBRM) and Dabur India Ltd., marks the beginning of a structured supply chain between farmers in the state and one of India’s largest herbal products companies.

At the flag-off ceremony held in Kohima, Chief Secretary Sentiyanger Imchen said that the initiative represents a rare instance where discussions about Nagaland’s agricultural and bio-resource potential have translated into a tangible and market-ready outcome.

Calling it a “concrete and substantive” step, he said that the partnership demonstrates that the state can align its traditional resources with modern commercial demand—provided production is carried out scientifically and at sufficient scale.

Imchen pointed out that Zanthoxylum—although widely used in Naga households as a spice, medicinal ingredient and flavouring agent—remains largely unrecognised for its commercial value within the state.

Highlighting the importance of meeting market expectations, the chief secretary revealed that Dabur had originally sought a minimum of ten tonnes of Zanthoxylum seeds, but Nagaland could commit only around 1.5 tonnes for the first shipment.

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This gap, he said, was telling of one of the biggest structural challenges facing the state’s agricultural sector: the inability to produce in volumes significant enough to attract and retain large buyers.

Imchen recalled that the NBRM, formed to harness the state’s medicinal plant potential, had catalogued all known medicinal and aromatic plants a decade ago.

The Zanthoxylum initiative, he said, reflects the next logical step: converting documented resources into commercially viable products. He lauded NBRM for taking forward the mission’s mandate by establishing formal ties with Dabur through a Memorandum of Understanding with a buy-back commitment.

Underscoring the importance of reliability in commercial partnerships, the chief secretary advised farmers and entrepreneurs to uphold quality and consistency, cautioning that market relationships suffer when producers fail to meet commitments.

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He added that Dabur too must honour its obligations and work with the state to build long-term, mutually beneficial supply chains.

Imchen expressed hope that this initial consignment would pave the way for more extensive procurement in the future, not just of Zanthoxylum but other valuable bio-resources found abundantly in Nagaland.

He hoped of a future where Dabur, and potentially other companies, would procure multiple consignments of various plants and herbs once Nagaland demonstrates that its production can be scaled up and sustained.

The chief secretary encouraged farmers to adopt scientific cultivation techniques and to recognise emerging market trends, urging them to produce in volumes that meet commercial standards.

The state government, he added, would continue to support growers and entrepreneurs through the NBRM and other initiatives aimed at enhancing value addition and developing agro-based industries.

Speeches were delivered by Dr. Kruolalie Tsurho, Team Leader of NBRM, and representatives from Dabur India Ltd, who appreciated the state’s efforts and stressed the importance of strengthening the supply chain.

Following the flag-off, a stakeholders’ conclave was held at the SIRD conference hall to discuss strategies for scaling production, improving quality control and exploring additional avenues for collaboration.