A one-day workshop on One District One Product (ODOP), focusing on pickle, was held at the Conference Hall of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Kohima, on September 25.
Deputy Commissioner, Kohima, B Henok Buchem, NCS, in his keynote address, said ODOP provides an important opportunity to identify, strengthen and promote products rooted in local resources, traditions and communities. He stressed that the initiative should go beyond production to creating sustainable livelihoods, supporting local entrepreneurs and strengthening the local economy.
He highlighted Nagaland’s rich variety of locally available foods, vegetables, spices and agricultural produce, along with traditional food preservation practices. He emphasised the need to combine traditional knowledge with modern food-processing techniques, particularly in hygiene, quality control, packaging, branding and marketing.
Buchem said producing good-quality pickle is only the first step and that the entire value chain- from sourcing quality raw materials and processing to packaging, branding, transportation and market access- needs to be strengthened. He also underscored the importance of food safety, certification, consistent quality and shelf life to enable local products to compete in wider markets.
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Highlighting the potential of Naga cuisine and local food products, he said Nagaland’s distinctive flavours and traditional ingredients could be developed into strong brands with appeal within and beyond the State. He encouraged participants to make effective use of digital platforms and e-commerce to expand market reach, while maintaining consistent supply.
The technical sessions focused on branding and packaging, food safety and compliance, NABARD support for ODOP, and experience sharing by an ODOP entrepreneur. The workshop concluded with an interactive knowledge-sharing session on strengthening production, value addition, branding, certification and market linkages for pickle and other local products.
The workshop was chaired by Inspector of Industries, District Industries Centre (DIC), Kohima, Kedozolie Nagi, and brought together officials, entrepreneurs and stakeholders to discuss opportunities, challenges and support mechanisms for developing local products under the ODOP initiative. Earlier, General Manager, DIC Kohima, Ahunle Tep, delivered the welcome address and Functional Manager, DIC Kohima, Jessy Jurry, spoke on “ODOP Initiatives and Avenues for Entrepreneurs”.
