Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) S Supongmeren Jamir on Thursday underscored the importance of agriculture in the Naga society and exhorted farmers to look at agriculture as a sustainable enterprise through a shift of their traditional subsistence farming mentality to one based upon commercial viability.

Speaking at the launching ceremony of Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA), the launch pad of the 15-day nationwide pre-kharif campaign in the state at ICAR Medziphema, Jamir who graced the occasion as chief guest, encouraged farmers to take optimum advantage of the services and facilities provided by many institutions in the state, including and not limited to the centres of excellences that had organized the day’s program, in furtherance of the stated transition.

He remarked that apart from the great strides being made in the delivery of extension services, the concerned institutions should also give equal emphasis on the improvement of the marketing front, in terms of the development and upgradation of marketing infrastructures including cold chains, affordable transportation and logistics and primary post-harvest management facilities, facilitation of GI tags and other certification processes, and creation of reliable market and credit linkages.

Jamir concluded his address by affirming his respect for the farmers of the state and the nation at large, and assured all possible support and assistance from his end for any initiative aimed at promoting the agricultural sector in the state.

The program was organised jointly by Krishi Vigyan Kendra Dimapur, ICAR Nagaland Centre and ICAR-NRC on Mithun, at the ICAR-NRC on Mithun Centre in Medziphema.

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The program also saw the attendance of a host of dignitaries including Dr. Girish Patil S, Director, ICAR-NRC on Mithun, Dr. H Kalita, Head of ICAR Nagaland Centre, Prof. L Daiho, Dean School of Agricultural Sciences Medziphema, James Swu ADC Medziphema, Dr. Phool Kumari Senior Scientist and Head KVK Dimapur, representatives from Central Institute of Horticulture and various agri and allied departments of the state, and hundreds of progressive farmers from Dimapur, Chümoukedima and Nuiland districts.