First in the state, Organic AC market inaugurated in Dimapur

December 9, 2020 132 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 8

Nagaland Minister for Agriculture and Co-operation, G Kaito Aye today inaugurated an Organic Air-conditioned Market to sell vegetables and fruits grown in different parts of the state.

The market—a first of its kind in the state, occupies a total area of 42,230 square feet and is located at Nagaland State Agriculture Marketing Board (NSAMB) Complex, NER Agri Expo Site, Dimapur.

Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Market, Kaito said the AC Market was being launched for the benefit of the farmers and called for agricultural produce to be linked with the NSAMB. He said producers should look beyond meeting the needs of the state and focus on increasing the volume and quality of produce to attract buyers from outside.

Kaito appealed the agriculture and allied departments to collectively promote the welfare of the farmers. He also urged the officers of the departments to go to the fields to get first hand information about the needs and challenges faced by the farmers.

The total cost of the project amounting to Rs 948 lakh was approved and funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India under CSS as RKVY additional grant during 2018-19.

Guest of honour for the event, Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC) Y Kikheto Sema, said that the lack of scope for large and medium scale industries in the state should prompt the agri and allied departments to come together in the interest of the farming community.

“The agri and allied departments have been carrying out various projects in a scattered manner and it is time to come together on a mission and work for the farmers,” he said and pointed out that the departments have set its mission on Integrated Agri & Allied Settled Farming.

The APC also informed that plans are being discussed to bring all the agri and allied departments under a single roof at Agri Expo Site, particularly to facilitate the farmers.

For this purpose, he said that the Farmers’ Hostel at Agri Expo site, the foundation stone for which was unveiled by the Agriculture Minister in the morning, would accommodate more than 100 farmers who would converge from different parts of the state to exchange their expertise and learn from each other.

Presenting construction report of the AC Market, CEO NSAMB, G Ikuto Zhimomi said that the Organic AC Market was probably the first of its kind not only in the state but the whole of northeast. He also informed that the daily market and cold storage would run on uninterrupted power supply from solar energy of 63 kva capacity, DG power of 100 kva and grid power supply.

Out of the total 42,230 sq ft, the AC daily market area occupies 2,000 sq ft while 1,750 sq ft area is occupied by cold storage of 100 metric tonne capacity in two chambers. Collection, grading and packaging area takes up 2,700 sq ft of space while 2,500 sq ft has been utilised a for Mini Park and water fountain. The remaining area has been allotted for parking lot and solar panels.

Zhimomi also informed that the state organic production during 2017-18 and 2018-19 as per agriculture and horticulture departments was to the tune of 35,000mt and 40,120mt respectively.

“However, no market facilities as such for organic products exist, except for rudimentary systems of marketing, which neither cater to the needs of farmers nor consumers,” he said.

The CEO also informed that the state’s agricultural produce are ‘organic by default’ as claimed but certification of the same remain incomplete. Only crops in 6000 ha area under organic programme implemented through the departments of agriculture and horticulture are under certification, he added.