Sapotimi village in Zunheboto celebrated its first Chilli Festival, highlighting its success in chilli cultivation and sustainable farming.
DIMAPUR — Sapotimi village under Zunheboto district celebrated its first Chilli Festival on Friday on the theme, "Let's celebrate our spice, our pride," with sponsorship from the Department of Horticulture, Government of Nagaland.
According to a press release issued by the NPF Zunheboto division, District Horticulture Officer (DHO), Zunheboto, Dr. Along Tzudir attended the event as the special guest. He was accompanied by members of the Farmers' Wing of NPF Zunheboto Division and the Zunheboto District Tourism Association.
The festival showcased the village's achievements in chilli cultivation and sustainable farming practices.
Addressing the gathering, Tzudir commended the people of Sapotimi for their diligence, discipline and hard work. He said the village had consistently lived up to the department's expectations and had inspired officials to strengthen their commitment to supporting its agricultural development.
He noted that the Department of Horticulture was fortunate to have adopted Sapotimi as a horticulture village and to have built a strong partnership with its farming community.
Assuring continued support, he said the department would work closely with the villagers to further strengthen and expand agricultural development.
Describing Sapotimi as an inspiration for the entire Zunheboto district, the DHO encouraged young people to view agriculture not merely as a means of livelihood but as a viable enterprise. Highlighting the growing potential of horti-tourism, he urged the youth to adopt innovative farming practices and explore emerging opportunities in the sector.
He further assured the gathering that the department's support would extend beyond the festival, with more innovative programmes, technologies and initiatives to be introduced for the benefit of the farming community.
Sharing the village's agricultural journey, lead farmer Tokugha Sumi said farming had been the primary occupation of the villagers for generations. Their objective, he said, had always been to achieve self-sufficiency by producing enough for household consumption while selling surplus produce to generate income.
He recalled that the Department of Horticulture declared Sapotimi a "Chilli Village" in 2021, marking a significant milestone in its agricultural development.
Since then, the department has provided continuous support through the supply of quality seeds, regular field inspections, monitoring and technical guidance.
Tokugha said the village had earlier cultivated large areas of land but achieved relatively low yields. However, after adopting the relay cropping system with technical support from the department, productivity improved significantly. Today, he said, the farmers have attained self-sufficiency and are producing surplus crops for the market.
Speaking on the occasion, L Bendang, chairman of Longsa Village Council, said Longsa village had closely observed the hardworking spirit of the people of Sapotimi.
He remarked that their dedication and commitment to farming serve as an example for neighbouring villages and that Longsa had much to learn from their success.
Earlier, the programme began with a welcome address by Khekuto Akukau. The event also featured an inspection of stalls displaying local agricultural produce, followed by a chilli feast.