Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio on Saturday flagged off 35 tractors and 6 Tata Mobiles distributed under the Chief Minister’s Corpus Fund (CMCF) during a programme organised by the Planning & Transformation Department at the Agri Expo, Chümoukedima.
Chief Minister was accompanied by Advisor, Home Guards & Civil Defence, Fire & Emergency Services, S. Kiusumew Yimchunger, and MLA, Y. Lima Onen Chang and MLA, A. Pongshi Phom.
Addressing the beneficiaries, Rio said nearly 70 per cent of Nagaland’s population depends on agriculture, making it the backbone of the state’s economy. He urged farmers to maximise the use of the state’s fertile land by adopting modern farming techniques to improve productivity and livelihoods.
He said the distribution of tractors and Tata Mobiles under the Chief Minister’s Corpus Fund supplements the machinery already being provided through the Agriculture and Allied Departments, with the objective of promoting agricultural mechanisation and making farming more productive and sustainable.
Sharing his personal experience, Rio recalled the challenges he faced in acquiring a tractor during his younger days, when he was engaged in farming and said mechanisation had significantly improved his farming activities. He urged beneficiaries not to sell the machinery but to use it effectively to enhance agricultural production and income, encouraging them to embrace modern technology and become progressive farmers.
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Referring to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, the Chief Minister said while the government can support development through various schemes, sustained economic growth also depends on the efforts of farmers, entrepreneurs and individuals. He called on farmers to focus on organic farming and value addition, stating that Nagaland has immense agricultural potential and should strive for self-reliance while contributing to the nation’s development goals.
Earlier, Principal Secretary and Development Commissioner, Y Kikheto Sema, IAS, said the government launched the distribution of tractors and power tillers under the Chief Minister’s Corpus Fund in 2006-07 to promote agricultural mechanisation as traditional farming methods were becoming less viable.
He informed that since the programme’s inception, 224 tractors and 262 power tillers have been distributed across the state to improve food security, strengthen farmers’ livelihoods and promote commercial agriculture.
For the 2025-26 financial year, Sema said the government procured 35 Mahindra and New Holland tractors, along with accessories, at a cost of ₹3.30 crore for distribution to beneficiaries. He also announced that six Tata Mobiles were provided under the Chief Minister’s Pool Fund for the first time.
Sema said the State is blessed with diverse agro-climatic zones capable of producing a wide range of crops, from dragon fruit and kiwi to pineapple, banana, coffee, rubber and agarwood. He added that Nagaland’s agricultural produce is naturally organic, giving it a unique advantage.
The programme was conducted by Assistant Planning Officer, P. Yongnyu Phom.
