Mhathung Yanthan, MLA and Advisor for Agriculture, has outlined a comprehensive roadmap to strengthen the farming sector in Noklak and across Nagaland, emphasizing infrastructure development, climate-resilient practices, and youth participation as key priorities.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Nagaland Tribune, Yanthan acknowledged that a majority of people in the Noklak region depend on agriculture for their livelihood and stressed that improving the sector requires more than distributing machinery. He said the government is working on multiple initiatives, including providing need-based inputs tailored to terrain, farming systems, and local conditions. He noted that machinery supplied to farmers is designed to be user-friendly, terrain-appropriate, and accessible to all, including women farmers.
Highlighting the growing threat of climate change, he stated that adapting to environmental shifts is essential. The government is therefore promoting climate-resistant crops, diversification, and smart agricultural technologies while encouraging farmers to continue traditional practices with modern improvements to enhance productivity.
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On institutional support, Yanthan said that agricultural knowledge centres are planned for every district. Since Noklak is a relatively new district, he confirmed that a proposal has already received in-principle approval from the Union government to establish such a centre there, along with other newly created eastern districts.
Addressing transportation challenges that hinder farmers from reaching markets, he said he has urged the Chief Minister to introduce transport subsidies for selected commercial crops from remote areas. The proposal has received a positive response, he added, expressing hope that such measures, along with future post-harvest infrastructure, will reduce costs and improve market access.
Turning to employment, Yanthan emphasized that agriculture offers wide-ranging opportunities for youth beyond cultivation alone. He pointed out prospects in aggregation, processing, branding, packaging, marketing, and agri-entrepreneurship. Government initiatives and financial schemes, he said, are available to support young people who wish to pursue agriculture as a profitable career.
He concluded by reaffirming that empowering farmers remains a top priority for the state leadership and that strategic investments in infrastructure, training, and innovation will be key to transforming agriculture into a sustainable and thriving sector.
