Nagaland’s cultivation of spices has promising potential: Mhathung Yanthan

October 29, 2022 64 Views No Comment

E-selling of large cardamoms launched

Morung Express News
Chümoukedima | October 29

As the global production of spices has expanded rapidly at an industrial scale, Mhathung Yanthan, MLA & Advisor, Department of Horticulture and Border Affairs, noted that Nagaland is not lagging behind and has promising potential.

During 2021-22 alone, Nagaland exported 42,265 metric tonnes (MT) of spices, amounting to Rs 14.907 lakh.

This was stated during the “Export oriented seminar on spices of Nagaland & launch of the pilot project on e-selling of large cardamom,” organised by the Spices Board of India at Niathu Resort, Chümoukedima on October 28.

The Advisor mentioned that Nagaland has also exported Naga King Chilli to cities such as London which was a gateway for exporting spices as far as the state is concerned. He highlighted several challenges which were faced by the state, preventing an uptick in large production scale. These included quality standards like cleanliness and external contaminants. “We have to meet global demands and as such we have to educate our farmers to meet these quality standards,” while also taking into consideration lack of awareness, socio economic factors of farmers, non existence of post harvest and processing facilities, he said.

He recommended that the Spices Board of India should have better coordination between the different departments in terms of information and knowledge. In view of the expanding area of cultivation and production for spice products, he further requested the board members to upgrade its office and requisition more staffs.

With the launch of the e-selling of large cardamom, the Advisor acknowledged that it was an appropriate time which will further strengthen the sector, allowing the producers to directly connect with the sellers. The benefit of e-selling is not beneficial to one single product alone but is meant for all the whole spice farmers in the State, he observed.

The Advisor further appreciated the contributions made by the Spices Board for promoting and developing spice cultivation in Nagaland. “Their spread in Nagaland and the NE (North East) region has been immense,” he maintained.

“My suggestion is all agencies dealing with spice have to work together unitedly,” along with doing research and setting up research centres not just for spices but for the other agricultural products, he said. Post harvest management, great need for establishing low cost storage facilities and low cost processing units were also needed, according to the Advisor.

Y Kikheto Sema, APC & Secretary, Department of Agriculture meanwhile stated that India is the world’s largest producer of spices and large cardamom. Hence the NE region plays an important role in contributing to this factor.

For Nagaland, ginger cultivation covers 4,724 hectares and produces 35,321 MT, turmeric covers 649 hectares and produces 9191 MT, while Naga king chilli covers 606 hectares and 2490 MT are produced. As for large cardamom, it covers 3,873 hectares and produces 2133 MT.

He also commented on the State Government’s role, with the support from the Government of India, in undertaking initiatives to assist farmers in terms of plantation, production and post harvest management. However, there were still many challenges such as drying, grading, packaging and market linkages, he remarked.

He maintained on the use of innovative technologies, inclusive business plan, linkages with buyers and innovative platform for selling the products of farmers should be the way forward.

“The initiative on the E- selling platform for Large Cardamom will be first of its kind in the State. I am hopeful that these will create larger market outreach, better opportunities for selling and buying, will ease the business process, and promote better transparency,” he said.

Similarly, D Sathiyan, Secretary, Spices Board of India, asserted that the strength of the Northeast region is the presence of unique agri products and spices of high intrinsic values along with its organic nature.

He anticipated that the seminar would help entrepreneurs in the state to gain a better understanding on the requirements of exports as well as the support programmes available under various Government agencies.

The Spices Board of India was first established on February 26, 1987 and has 84 offices located across India. In Nagaland, the board currently has two offices set up in Dimapur and Kohima.

Source: https://morungexpress.com/nagalands-cultivation-of-spices-has-promising-potential-mhathung-yanthan