The Agri and Allied sector got the spotlight in Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s Budget for Nagaland (2023-2024) with a total outlay of Rs. 5,426 lakh for the agriculture department of which 706.09 lakh is earmarked for the core activities and Rs.800 lakh for State Matching share for Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS).
Presenting the first budget of the 14th Legislative Assembly for the year 2023-2024 on the floor of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on Monday, CM apprised that Agriculture Department has been provided Rs. 1,736.09 lakh for construction of offices and quarters, of which Rs. 706.09 lakh is earmarked for core activities like agri farm roads, promotion of indigenous products and capacity building and exposure trips for farmer and State Matching Share for CSS.
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Horticulture Department has been provided Rs. 590 lakh for construction of horti link roads, augmentation of marketing of horticultural produce, development of flower clusters and other core activities, he said, while Soil & Water Conservation Department has been provided Rs. 400 lakh for construction of Departmental Guest House and other core activities.
Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services Department has been provided Rs. 470 lakh for various activities like strengthening of pig breeding farms and setting up feed and fodder manufacturing units through private participation and pig breeding farms in the district, Rio, who also hold the finance portfolio stated.
Fisheries & Aquatic Resources Department has been provided Rs. 350 lakh for development of cluster-based fisheries and to institutionalised farmer’s producers organisations he said, whereas Environment, Forests & Climate Change Department have been provided Rs. 420 lakh for setting up hi-tech nurseries to promote indigenous wild fruits in Nagaland.
Cooperation Department has been provided Rs. 250 lakh for construction of office at Mokokchung, Land Resources Department has been provided Rs. 600 lakh for various departmental activities and Water Resources Department has been provided Rs. 354.48 lakh for various core activities.
The Chief Minister said that Rural Development sector has been provided with Rs. 3,400 lakh for various activities and the Department of Under Developed Areas has been provided Rs. 2,400 lakh for core activities and iconic projects.
Read more: CM Rio proposes selling of liquor to foreign visitors to boost tourism in Nagaland
Highlighting completed and ongoing projects in the state in Agri and Allied sector, Rio informed that the Organic A.C. market, 120-bedded Farmer’s Hostel and Community Marketing Complex at NE Agri-Expo site in 4th mile, Chümoukedima was nearing completion. He said that the facility will benefit the farming community of the entire Northeast as the site will host year-long exhibitions for the farming community including ‘buyers-sellers meets’.
CM also updated that 11 new sub-divisional Horticulture offices has been set up to strengthen the functioning of the department at the grassroots level; Soil and Water Conservation department will also complete the setting up of soil testing and analysis units and distribution of micronutrients in the four newly created districts; Fisheries department under “Blue Revolution – Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries” has constructed 200 numbers of fisherman houses and is presently upgrading demonstration fish farms at Peren, Mon, Tuensang and Dimapur districts; Department of Forest has distributed 40 lakh seedlings for planting during 2022-2023 and under Integrated Development for Wildlife Habitat has reserved 127 community with a total area of approximately 889.35 square kilometres which is significantly increasing the Protected Area Network of the State.
CM stated that ‘Integrated Cooperative Development Project’ has benefitted 185 cooperative societies consisting of 16,725 individual farmers with credit facilities for creation of various infrastructure such as godown, banking counters, transport vehicles, small processing units, cold storages, poultry, piggery, and diary conceiving the model of forming ‘One village, One Cooperative Society’ to declutter, streamline and provide a robust membership and limited objectives.
“The Land Resources Department is presently implementing anti-erosion projects on Tizu river under Zunheboto and Sietsaru at Kohima under NEC funding. Also, construction of 29 water harvesting ponds under State Development Program during the year 2022-2023 are nearing completion,” he added.
Read more: FOCUS the first Externally Aided Project under Agri and Allied Dept: Y Kikheto Sema
