Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, today inaugurated the first Jhum Fair cum Chiecha Licha (Authentic Chiecama Cuisine) organised by Chiechamiapfü Mechü Krotho (Chiechema Women Organisation) at Chiechama village under Kohima district.

Speaking at the fair, Rio lauded and congratulated the Chiechama women folk for organising such a fair, showcasing various agricultural products as well as sharing the Chiecha cuisines. He said it was a delight to explore Chiechama cuisine which is a gastronomic delight that reflects the flavours, spices and traditions of Nagaland. While the Chiecha women folk has motivated everyone through their initiatives, he hoped that this will also encourage other neighbouring villages to inculcate such exemplary efforts.

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Acknowledging the women folk for promoting organic farming, Chief Minister Rio said, “produce from organic farming will cost more but it will be good for health.” Rio therefore encouraged all to further promote the local produce and cuisine.

The Chief Minister also noted that Nagas has a unique identity, be it food, tradition and culture. He said, due to long pending Naga Political issue, the state lags behind in the industry sector, while products locally made available as ’Made in Nagaland’ are not huge commercialised, though they are few of them.

The Chief Minister however said, “our state is blessed with good climatic conditions with abundant of fertile land and suitable all kinds of crops cultivation.” He therefore said, Nagas have become well aware on how to sell their produce and sustain themselves economically through various agri products. The Chief Minister also expressed happiness to hear that some of the families from the Chiechama village are able to earn more than a lakh by commercialising their produces.

He also impressed on the year 2023 being declared as the International Year Millets in the world. To this, he expressed delightful on the way the Millet has been emphasised in this fair.

He also emphasised on the need to document our rich foods habits and cuisines. He noted that our culture, traditions and food habits are enhancing along modern civilisation. Rio therefore said the state government has given special emphasis on preserving the rich cultural traditions, heritage and cuisines, by holding road shows and festivals as well as giving GI tag to our produces.

The Chief Minister further hoped that this Jhum Fair will continue in the days to come which will help our farmers economically. While assuring help to the farmers, Rio also said, that the state government is giving emphasis and focus to the development of Agri and allied sectors. He said, the state is setting up various farmers market in major location of the districts and that Chiechama, Rusoma, Zadima and Bosta villages have been sanctioned a sum 40 lakh rupee each this year for construction of Farmers market to enable farmers for various villages to sale their produces.

In Nagaland, Jhum constitutes as much as 76 percent of the cropped area, as per United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Organising committee member Helen Rio said the fair was conceptualise to showcase the rich agricultural products produced by the village folk, so as to encore the local farmers and uplift their economy by showcasing and selling their agricultural products, which is grown all organically.

Chiechema, being one of the largest villages in Northern Angami II Assembly Constituency, is blessed with vast agricultural land and fertile soil which is suitable for cultivation of most of the vegetables consumed by the Nagas.

Some of the famous agri products of the village are Chiechema chillies, banana, local onion, cucumber and tree tomatoes.

“These are some of the items that has a unique taste and people also prefer these products which is particularly cultivated in this area,” added Helen.

She also mentioned that a per reports from the local farmers, they are the main suppliers to Kohima and Dimapur market when it comes to organic vegetables, because they practise 100 percent organic farming. Some farmers earn around Rs.1 lakh – Rs.2 lakh per annum, she said.

The fair witnessed varieties of organic produce, GI tagged tree tomato, spices, fruits, pickles, handicrafts, etc.