Naga Mircha, a major contributor to Seiyhama village economy

September 7, 2024 10 Views No Comment

3rd organic King Chilli Festival held

Morung Express News
Kohima | September 7

Seiyhama village, one of the last villages in the Northern Angami region bordering with the Rengma tribe has been making significant economic progress due to Naga mircha cultivation.

About 150 households are actively with estimated annual produce of 14,000 kgs valued at 60 lakhs for the current year.

Director of Horticulture, Meyasashi speaking at the 3rd organic King Chilli festival at Seiyhama village on September 6.

Alongside the terrace farming, most of the households are fully engaged in Naga mircha cultivation elevating livelihoods for the past years.

The Naga mircha cultivation has been a major contributor to the village economy wherein in 2022, the village made a turnover of Rs 1 crore, as told by Lhoulalie Zumu, convenor organising committee to The Morung Express.

The third edition of the organic King chilli festival was held on September 6 at Seiyhama village council hall sponsored by the Department of Horticulture.

Director of Horticulture, Meyasashi speaking as the special guest of the festival has emphasised on the need for value addition products.

Chilli, being a perishable crop, he said “We have to think beyond selling the fresh produces.”

Meyasashi viewed that farmers need to scale up their produces, and target global market, and with GI Tag, he said, Naga mircha as a branded product has immense potentials.

With farming a major activity of rural farmers, which is contributing to the state’s economy, he said, all allied departments in the state are trying to push the economy.

The Director also assured of the department’s support for anyone interested to undergo training on value addition products, especially industrial products.

Appreciating the concept of Naga mircha festival to encourage and promote the farmers, Seyievonuo, Deputy Disrict Agri Officer, has also assured to provide training for the farmers.

Senka Jamir, Joint Director, Horticulture urged the farmers to make Naga mircha continually available in the market by adopting technology.

Presenting documentation on how Naga mircha is cultivated from searching the land till harvesting, Kelhousilie Thevo said, the village doesn’t use any chemical pesticides or fertilizers.

Meanwhile, Zumu said, about 2000 kgs of Naga mircha was sold in today’s festival. He recalled that the village has been cultivating Naga mircha for decades, but hasn’t been able to promote it commercially until recent years.

The festival was also marked by king chilly eating competition, and traditional games like bamboo walk, bamboo climbing, war cry and catapult shooting.