Nagaland Minister for Tourism and Higher Education, Temjen Imna Along, along with Advisor for Science & Technology Küzholüzo (Azo) Nienu, on Wednesday met Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Minister of State for PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, to discuss a comprehensive roadmap for expanding lavender-based agri-entrepreneurship and strengthening the science and innovation ecosystem in the state.
The meeting focused on leveraging Nagaland’s rich biodiversity, natural resources and academic institutions through targeted scientific interventions to generate sustainable livelihoods, improve farmers’ incomes, promote rural entrepreneurship and accelerate technology-driven development.
A key agenda of the discussions was the expansion of lavender cultivation and other high-value aromatic crops under the successful CSIR Aroma Mission. The initiative follows Nagaland’s adoption of the Purple Revolution model in 2022, when a startup group began lavender cultivation in Zunheboto district after drawing inspiration from the programme’s success in Bhaderwah, Jammu & Kashmir.
Appreciating the pilot initiative in Nagaland, Dr Jitendra Singh said scientifically guided interventions suited to the state’s agro-climatic conditions could transform aromatic crop cultivation into a sustainable livelihood model. He observed that the experience gained from the pilot project could serve as the foundation for expanding similar farmer-centric initiatives to other suitable districts, creating higher incomes, rural enterprises and value-added opportunities.
Referring to the success of the CSIR Aroma Mission in Jammu & Kashmir, the Union Minister said the initiative had demonstrated how science could drive socio-economic transformation by generating employment and enhancing the incomes of farming communities.
To facilitate wider adoption of the model, Dr Singh proposed an exposure visit for scientists, technical experts and senior officials from Nagaland to Jammu & Kashmir. He said the visit would enable them to study the successful implementation of lavender cultivation, interact with scientific institutions and progressive farmers, and identify best practices that could be adapted to Nagaland’s local conditions.
He also recommended a scientific assessment of suitable locations across the state for expanding lavender and other aromatic crops through a region-specific approach.
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Stressing the importance of long-term sustainability, Dr Singh said quality planting material, scientific handholding, technology support, skill development and market linkages would be essential for scaling up aromatic crop cultivation and ensuring lasting benefits for farmers and rural youth.
Besides agriculture, the meeting also explored extending flagship schemes of the Department of Science & Technology (DST) to strengthen Nagaland’s science and innovation ecosystem, particularly through universities, colleges and research institutions, including the state’s Central University.
Dr Singh suggested that senior DST officials hold detailed consultations with the Nagaland Government and academic institutions to identify priority areas for collaboration, assess the feasibility of establishing scientific infrastructure and technology-enabled facilities, and prepare an implementation roadmap aligned with the state’s developmental priorities.
He further encouraged closer collaboration between the Government of Nagaland and premier scientific institutions under the Department of Science & Technology and the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) to promote innovation-driven research, technology transfer and capacity-building among young scientists, startups and entrepreneurs.
Stronger partnerships between universities, research institutions, industry and government, he said, would help build a vibrant innovation ecosystem capable of addressing region-specific developmental challenges.
The discussions also covered opportunities for collaboration in biotechnology, agri-technologies, bio-resource utilisation and other emerging sectors where Nagaland possesses significant natural advantages. Dr. Singh said science and technology could play a transformative role in unlocking the economic potential of the Northeast by developing locally relevant, sustainable and scalable solutions that directly improve the lives of farmers, rural communities and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Temjen Imna Along appreciated the Centre’s continued support in strengthening the science and technology ecosystem in the Northeast and reaffirmed the Nagaland Government’s commitment to working closely with the Ministry in advancing collaborative initiatives across priority sectors.
Advisor Küzholüzo (Azo) Nienu also shared the state’s vision of expanding scientific research, promoting innovation and creating new opportunities for technology-led development in Nagaland.
The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to deepening Centre-State collaboration to translate scientific research into practical developmental outcomes through farmer-centric technologies, stronger research partnerships, enhanced institutional capacity and sustainable livelihood opportunities across Nagaland.
