Chief Minister of Nagaland, Dr. Neiphiu Rio, 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 on July 4, 2026.
The 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, Dr. Rio said that nearly 70 percent of Nagaland's population is engaged in farming, making agriculture the backbone of the State's economy. He noted that the State is blessed with fertile land and encouraged farmers to make full use of their fields by adopting modern agricultural practices to increase productivity and improve their livelihoods.
Stating that the distribution of tractors and Tata Mobiles under the Chief Minister's Corpus Fund is in addition to the machinery being provided through the Agriculture and Allied Departments, the Chief Minister said the initiative is aimed at supporting farmers with mechanisation and making agriculture more productive and sustainable.
Sharing his personal experience, Dr. Rio recalled the difficulties he faced in procuring a tractor during his younger days when he was actively engaged in farming. Recounting how mechanisation transformed his own farming activities, he encouraged the beneficiaries to make the best use of the machinery provided.
The Chief Minister urged the beneficiaries not to sell the tractors or other equipment but to utilise them effectively to increase agricultural production and income. He encouraged them to become progressive farmers by embracing new technologies and improving their skills.
Referring to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, Dr. Rio said while the government can facilitate development through various schemes, lasting economic growth also depends on the contribution of entrepreneurs, businesses and individuals. He stressed that prosperity among the people is essential for the overall development of the country.
Calling upon farmers to focus on organic farming and value addition, he said Nagaland has immense potential in agriculture and urged them to work hard towards making the State self-reliant and ensuring that Nagaland contributes meaningfully to the vision of a developed India.
Earlier, Principal Secretary & Development Commissioner, Y. Kikheto Sema, IAS, in his speech said the State Government introduced the distribution of tractors and power tillers under the Chief Minister's Corpus Fund in 2006-07. He stated that the initiative was launched to promote agricultural mechanisation as traditional methods were no longer economically viable.
He informed that since the inception of the programme, the Government has distributed 224 tractors and 262 power tillers to beneficiaries across the State. The initiative, he said, aims to strengthen food security, improve farmers' livelihoods and transform agriculture into a more productive, sustainable and commercially viable sector.
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.
For the financial year 2025-26, he informed that the Government procured 35 tractors of Mahindra and New Holland brands, along with the required accessories, at a cost of ₹3.30 crore for distribution to 35 beneficiaries under the Chief Minister's Corpus Fund. He further stated that, for the first time, six Tata Mobiles have also been provided under the Chief Minister's Pool Fund.
The programme was conducted by Assistant Planning Officer, P. Yongnyu Phom.
(Samuel, IA Chumoukedima)
