Nagaland University signed a Memoranda  of Understanding (MoUs) with Kumugai Farm Co., Ltd., Kaiyo Town, Tokushima Prefecture, and Hagumi Farm Co., Ltd., Aki city, Kochi Prefecture, Japan, to offer one-year internship programmes that would provide students with practical exposure to advanced Japanese farming practices.

The MoUs were signed and exchanged on July 22 during the Nagaland–Japan Connect Memorandum of Understanding Signing and Exchange Ceremony held at the School of Agricultural Sciences, Medziphema Campus, Nagaland University. University officials, faculty, representatives from the Government of Nagaland, and delegates from Japan were present on the occasion.

The programme was chaired by Prof J Longkumer, Nodal Officer, Internship Programme Japan–Nagaland University.

Welcoming the gathering, Prof Pauline Alila, Dean, School of Agricultural Sciences, said that the MoUs marked the beginning of a long-term partnership built on a shared vision, mutual trust and a commitment to advancing agricultural education through international collaboration.

Prof Pauline Alila added, “This collaboration reflects our common aspiration for innovation and knowledge exchange. We are confident that it will create new opportunities for technology transfer, skill development, and cultural understanding, benefiting both our communities. By joining hands with our Japanese partners, we hope to harness our respective strengths to create meaningful opportunities for our students and foster long-term prosperity.”

Remarks were also delivered by representatives from Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), Government of Nagaland, Dr Limanungla Longkumer, Takeo Kumagai, Representative Director of Kumagai Farm Co., Ltd., Tokushima Prefecture and Yamamoto Seiya,  Representative Director of Hagumi Farm Co., Ltd., Kochi Prefecture, Japan.

During the MoU signing and exchange ceremony, the speakers emphasized on the importance of India–Japan collaboration in agriculture, knowledge sharing, and skill development through structured internship programmes.

Takeo Kumagai described the MoU as the beginning of a long-term partnership that extends beyond student internships. “We see this partnership evolving well beyond internships. This MoU marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration that we believe will create greater employment opportunities for the youth of Nagaland while strengthening ties between Nagaland and Japan. We are optimistic that this partnership will expand into research collaboration, technology transfer, skill development, and industry cooperation,” Takeo Kumagai  added.

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Yamamoto Seiya highlighted the importance of combining Japanese agricultural expertise with Nagaland’s strengths to promote sustainable farming and skill development.

“One of the greatest strengths of Japanese agriculture is its emphasis on precision, sustainability, and continuous innovation. This partnership is not about one side teaching the other but it is about learning together. By combining Japan’s technological expertise with Nagaland’s resources and dedication, we hope to promote sustainable agricultural development, improve productivity, create opportunities for young people, and strengthen long-term cooperation between our two regions,” Yamamoto Seiya said.

In his concluding remarks, Prof Dipak Sinha, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Medziphema Campus, said, “The partnership is a significant step towards strengthening international collaboration and enhancing students’ practical learning opportunities. I hope this collaboration will expand in the future to include joint research initiatives. I also request our Japanese partners to explore online programmes that will expose our students to advanced agricultural technologies and farming practices in Japan.”

Prof Dipak Sinha further appreciated the Japanese partner farms, IDAN, GoN, Faculty and the officials of the School of Agricultural Sciences, Nagaland University, for making the MoUs possible.

Under the MoUs, students from the department of Vocational Studies and Skill Development, SAS, Nagaland University will be placed on 12-month internship programmes in Japan to provide practical training in modern agricultural practices and also expose them to Japanese work culture, technology and professional standards. The internships will form part of the University’s practical training curriculum, with academic credits awarded in accordance with the regulations of Nagaland University and the respective Japanese institutions.

Nagaland University will facilitate the academic component of the programme, including student selection, credit recognition, and internship evaluation.