Horticulture enhances livelihood of farming community in Nagaland: AAR

April 2, 2023 58 Views No Comment

Our Correspondent
Kohima | April 2

Over the years, the Horticulture sector in Nagaland has emerged as one of the most significant and dominant sectors where people can easily engage themselves for sustenance. This was stated in the Annual Administrative Report 2022-23 of the Department of Horticulture, tabled in the recently concluded first session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) in Kohima.

The report maintained that the state being blessed with abundant resources and congenial climatic conditions is a boon to the farmers for cultivation of diverse crops.

Also, being an agrarian state where 70% of the population is dependent on farming, the majority of the people are actively involved in the Horticulture sector providing access to a balanced and healthy diet.

With the entire country being devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21, the year 2022 has been a challenging year of recovery from its cascading effect imposed on all sections of the society.

In Nagaland, the pandemic had drastically affected the farming community creating a gap in the value chain of production in the Agriculture as well as Horticulture sector. However, amidst the post COVID crisis, the Department of Horticulture, Government of Nagaland has been vigorously striving with hard work and sincerity to alleviate the damage caused to the farming community.

Enhancement of livelihood of the farming community being the primary goal, the department continues to impart scientific-technical support and training to the farmers for the progress of the Horticulture sector.

The report stated that the gradual success of the department can be seen in the prominence gained by the farming community in bringing laurels to the state.

It is to be highlighted that two farmers under the aid of the Department had been awarded the Large Cardamom Productivity Award during the International Buyer Seller Meet and Spices Conclave for Northeastern Region on July 1, 2022 at Guwahati, Assam.

Furthermore, three such FPCs namely Molsang Organic Pineapple Producer Company Limited, Phek Organic Large Cardamom Producer Company Limited and Chansu Organic Kiwi Producer Company Limited scheme were awarded with the Horticulture Value Chain Award 2022 on November 1, 2022 in Pune.

During the year 2022, the Department also crossed another milestone with the establishment of eleven Sub-Divisional Horticulture Offices at Pfütsero, Meluri, Mangkolemba, Tuli, Pughoboto, Seyochung, Tobu, Tening, Ralan, Sanis and Chiephobozou in order to improve and provide better services to the farmers.

A total area of 21250 Ha has been successfully covered under micro-irrigation, benefitting 7344 farmers across the state over the past 6 years; which will be further augmented in 2023-24.

The Department has also formed 6 FPCs covering 3000Ha for growing organic Dragon fruit, Avocado, Apple, Spices and Banana.

“With the formation of the FPCs, it is envisaged that the State will soon begin to export surplus of these crops as farmers will be able to aggregate and collectively market their products for export,” the Report stated.

The department has also sponsored the first ever Naga Mircha festival at Seiyhama village in Kohima with the sole objective of promoting the crop.