Henlly Phom
Dimapur, October 13
In view of increased demand for Indian spices in global markets and Centre’s thrust for organic produce, Spices Board of India is now cashing in on Naga king chilly- the major contributor in terms of quantity amongst all spices of northeast.
This was informed by Marketing Spices Board, Ministry of Commerce and Industry Assistant Director Nithin Joe at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) food processing workshop held at Hotel Acacia on Tuesday.
Highlighting on the activities of the Spices board for export promotion of spices, Joe accounted India to be the largest producer, exporter and consumer of spices with Nagaland playing a pilot role in spice supply. He also said that the spice processing in Northeast has a grant-in-aid upto 35% of the cost with maximum cost of Rs.50 lakh and upto 50% of the cost with maximum Rs.50 lakh for farmers group.
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MOFPI) Government of India had launched the National Mission on food processing a centrally sponsored scheme during the 12th Five year plan with funding pattern in the ratio of 90:10 for Northeast region. This was a step in the right direction to accelerate growth of food processing activities and value addition especially in the Northeast region. This was reported by Parliamentary Secretary for Industries and Commerce Amenba Yaden who addressed the workshop as the guest of honor.
However, Amenba lamented that the Union Budget (2015-16) presented on 28th February 2015 by the Government of India announced that the National Mission Of Food Processing (NMFP) would be delinked for central financial assistance with effect from 1st April 2015 which is unfortunate especially for states like Nagaland and the rest of Northeastern region with no resources to promote food processing activities.
“Apart from ginger and chilies, other spices are not normally part of the tribal palate. As such unless these spices are marketed out of the region, the simple farmers fail to find value in these spices. There have been instances where plantations of cardamom have been cut off in some villages as no marketing linkages were established by the agencies promoting the farming” stated Amenba.
Throwing light on the inherent disabling conditions in implementation of some of the schemes of the mission which lead to difficulties in absorption of the allocated budget by most of the states, Amenba accounted that Nagaland was the only state in the Northeast which had not fully utilized the sanctioned budget allotted but also received additional fund and 3rd installment during 2014-15 for implementing the mission schemes.
“In Nagaland we have a notified Special Economic Zone for agro and food processing at Ganeshnagar Dimapur where plots and sheds are available for any serious takers for setting up agro based Food Processing Industries for export” mentioned the legislature. He further informed that the state government has acquired 100 acres of land for setting up Mega Food Park project at Khopanalla Dimapur and taking the platform urged upon the ministry of Food Processing Industries to consider constructively one Mega Food Park project for Nagaland.
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Sending a clear message to the Ministry of Food Industries, Amenba emphasized on the agrarian economy of the state which constitutes more than 70% of its population dependent on agriculture and related activities and the role of the state in promoting organic farming with the long term plan of achieving ‘Total Organic State’ status.
While stating this, he pointed out that the Northeastern states lack basic infrastructural facilities like post harvest handling, efficient supply chain, adequate storage and processing facilities which lead to unacceptable and value losses to the farmers produces.
Northeast region is an out-and-out hotspot of biodiversity and to nurture this rich hotspot Amenba called on the Ministry of Food processing Industries for continuation of the NMFP in a new avatar tailor made especially for the North eastern states incorporating customized and region specific schemes. Leaving no rooms for the nascent food processing activities to slow down, he continued to call upon the stakeholders who include growers, processors or business operators to take note of the existing potentials in this sector and workout roadmaps and action plans to turn these potentials into real economic opportunities.
Ministry of Food Processing Industries GOI Additional Secretary JP Meena’s presence was missed who was supposed to grace the workshop as the chief guest.
