DIMAPUR, NOV 12 (NPN): Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar virtually inaugurated Framers’ Hostel cum Beekeepers’ Summit and Horti Expo at Central Institute of Horticulture (CIH), Medziphema on Thursday as part of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, an initiative of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of India’s Independence.
In a press release, CIH Nagaland director said the farmers’ hostel, which was constructed at a cost of Rs.3 crore, has a capacity of 40 beds with facilities like meeting hall and accommodation for resource persons. The facility would host the farmers of North East Region during various trainings and programmes at CIH.
In his address, the union agriculture minister expressed his happiness at the coming up of small farmers from Nagaland and North East with very good marketable products through the technical support and programmes of CIH. Highlighting various Central schemes for the farmers and beekeepers, Tomar emphasised that the Honey Mission, which was collaborating with NAFED for marketing of honey products, would highly benefit the small and marginal farmers/beekeepers of Nagaland and Northeast.
The union minister asserted that his ministry was always ready to support small farmers and work hand in hand through various government schemes, programmes and line departments under the ministry like CIH.
Tomar requested the small and marginal farmers to come forward and avail various services and benefits available for improving their farming activity.
The union minister congratulated the staff of CIH, state department and the farmers of Nagaland for working together and achieving greater heights in horticulture sector.
The inaugural programme was held in hybrid mode—both physical and virtually.
According to CIH Nagaland, presently 232 beekeepers/beekeeping societies/firms etc and 4265 bee colonies have been registered with the National Bee Board from Nagaland.
It stated that Nagaland has produced 650 metric tonnes of honey in the year 2020-21.
CIH director stated that Nagaland and the North East Region have huge potential in the Beekeeping sector. He said that two districts of Nagaland—Dimapur and Peren—have been identified for formation of FPOs of Beekepers/Honey producers under the scheme “Formation and Promotion of 10,000 new Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)” of Government of India.
During the technical programme of Beekeeper’s summit, NBHM team member Mhathung Tsopoe gave a presentation on “Pollination-Production & Productivity of Agriculture & Horticulture Crops by Bee-Pollinating Services” while NBHM team member Nzanbemo K Lotha spoke on “Quality Control of Honey & Marketing Strategy”.
On the occasion, the union minister also launched seven different types of fermented fruit beverages and candy prepared from locally available underutilized fruits manufactured by NG.Baio, founder & owner of Hills Foods from Senapati, Manipur and Naga King Chilli Pickle prepared by Vuseno Yakhro, founder & owner of Dwellington Home, Kohima.
Both the young entrepreneurs initiated the startup after undergoing three months Certificate Course on Post Harvest Management at CIH. Certificates were also distributed to ten Accredited Nurseries of North East Region and released various publications of CIH.
Vegetable seed kits were also distributed to the farmers in commemoration of the International Year of Fruits & Vegetables 2021 under Aatma Nirbhar Krishi.
On the occasion, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Molsang Organic Pineapple Producers Company Nagaland formed under MOVCD programme of the Govt. of India and Satsumi Farms LLP, New Delhi for marketing of Pineapple.
Altogether, 20 exhibition stalls have been set up by various departments/Exhibitors.
More than 150 farmers attended the programme physically and around 100 officials’ and dignitaries from around the North East and the country attended the programme virtually.
Dignitaries who attended the programme included Ministers of State for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Kailash Choudary and Sushri Shobha Karandlaje; DA&FW secretary Sanjay Agarwal; DA& FW additional secretary Dr.Abhilaksh Likhi; , DA& FW agriculture & horticulture commissioner Dr.SK Malhotra; additional commissioner (Hort.) & Managing Director, National Bee Board
Dr. N K Patle; commissioner and secretary and team leader, Beekeeping & Honey Mission, T Mhabemo Yanthan; commissioner and secretary (Horti), Anenla T Sato; Nagaland horticulture director Dr.E Lotha; Board of Management (BOM), CIH & MD, Fosse Holdings, Kolkata member Shiv Anjan Dalmia and BOM , CIH Member Diwakar Chachari.
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