The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), Government of India, in collaboration with the horticulture and agriculture departments of the Government of Nagaland held a review meeting on 12 November.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Manoj Ahuja, Secretary of DA&FW, at the Central Institute of Horticulture (CIH), Medziphema, Nagaland.
Manoj Ahuja also inaugurated exhibition stalls displayed at CIH.
Dr Abhilaksh Likhi, Addl Secretary, gave a brief presentation on the schemes and programmes being implemented in the Northeastern region, with particular emphasis on the following:
- National Mission on Edible oil – Oil Palm
- National Mission of Edible Oilseeds
- Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
- Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern region
- Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY)
- Formation and Promotion of Farmer Producers Organization (FPOs)
- National Bamboo Mission
- National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM)
The different states of the Northeastern region also presented status and issues related to the implementation of central government schemes.
The concerned joint secretaries of the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare had a detailed discussion with various HODs of the state governments from the Northeast and also resolved the problems faced by them.
In this meeting, major issues of non-availability of planting materials for oil palm and issues related to release of funds were also discussed.
After reviewing the schemes and details presented by the Northeastern states, the DA&FW secretary delivered his remarks and assured the states of the following:
- Setting up of MRL labs, soil testing and seed testing labs at each state.
- Timely conduct of State Level Steering Committee (SLSC) for approval of proposal and projects.
- Timely submission of all the UCs and Progress report.
- Coordination with research institutes such as ICAR, SAUs and KVKs for the latest production technology and dissemination through extension system.
- Value chain development for agricultural produce.
- Timely taking up and completions of infrastructure projects under RKVY.
On 13 November, a team led by the secretary of DA&FW made a field visit to interact with pineapple growers from Molvom village which has the largest area for pineapple plantation.
The members of Molvom pineapple farmers producer company interacted with senior officers of the ministry and showed interest to create processing facility in the village so that the surplus produce may be processed at village level and made available to the consumers in different places.
The team appreciated the efforts made by Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) made under Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Regions (MOVCDNER) – a major initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
On Sunday, the DA&FW secretary and additional secretary also visited the Nagaland Bamboo Resource Centre in Dimapur to see the facilities developed for promotion of bamboo-based products such as bamboo charcoal, furniture and Aggarbati, and the Bamboo Museum.
The Secretary, Additional Secretary, Joint Secretary and senior officers of DA&FW, GoI, at the Nagaland Bamboo Resource Centre, Dimapur on 13 November.
The officers interacted with the state officials and suggested various steps to promote bamboo-based activities in the states under the National Bamboo Mission which can change the livelihood of small and marginal farmers having bamboo-based agroforestry system.
The team also visited the processing and testing facilities of honey developed under Nagaland Beekeeping & Honey Mission. Different kinds of honey link collected from rock bees, stingless bees and other local bees are processed at the facility.
The Secretary and the Additional Secretary suggested various measures for upliftment of beekeeping sector in Nagaland with the help of the National Beekeeping & Honey Mission.
The state officials showed the state-of-the-art facility developed in Dimapur for marketing of organically grown produce at Organic AC Market which contains the facilities for grading, packaging, drying and cold storage for perishable products.
Produce from various districts of Nagaland is sold through the Organic AC Market to local consumers.
The central team appreciated the efforts of the Nagaland government for the promotion and upliftment of agriculture and horticulture sector in the state.
Dr Naveen K Patle, Addl Commissioner Horticulture, DA&FW, welcomed all the dignitaries from the central government and the Northeast states. The vote of thanks was given by Dr Prabhat Kumar, Horticulture Commissioner, DA&FW.
