UNION AGRI MINISTER INAUGURATE HONEY LABORATORY AT 7th MILE CHUMOUKEDIMA  

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the Honey Laboratory at Beekeeping Mission 7th Mile Dimapur on 27th June 2022.

Earlier the minister also visited Nagaland Bamboo Development Agency. Later on, Tomar and his team visited AC organic market at NE Agri Expo, Planted an ornamental tree, and held an official function at Angh House Agri Expo 4th Mile. Tomar said he was so privileged to understand and take a closer look at the Naga people and was all praise for the hospitality shown to him.

He said the agriculture and horticulture sector in Nagaland has great potential and can become the organic hub of the country, it has the potential to export not only within the country but can be exported outside the country and the central government is ready to help the state government in this regard. Tomar, further stated that the needs of the Nagaland are not only the needs of Nagas but the needs of the nation and when they are fulfilled, it will be the fulfillment of the nation.

Today inequality and imbalance of income in our society is one of the major problems and the government is serious about solving the problem, you must be aware that when PM Narendra Modi took the Oath he said his service will be available for the poor people and poverty. Today there are more than 42 crores Jan Dhan account and the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme is providing Rs 6000/ annually to 11 crores farmers. Tomar stated that it wouldn't have been possible for the farmers to receive Rs. 6000/ had it not been the vision of our PM.

While speaking at the function, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperation, Kaito Aye stated that Nagaland state is performing well in Agri and allied sector and said that the state has received Krishi Karman Award for two consecutive years for food grains Production under the small states category. Aye said that central sponsored schemes such as SMAM, RKVY, PM- KISAN, MIDH, PMKSY, etc have benefited our state.

The government with limited resources, initiated a start-up program called "NATURALLY NAGALAND" to monetize the poor and marginal farmers in post-harvest management and marketing so that they can package their products in any brand under the banner of Naturally Nagaland. Aye also brought to the knowledge of the central ministry that most of the central policies and schemes are generally designed as "one size fits all" and requested the planners and policymakers from the central ministry to visit the remote hill areas. The minister also highlighted the inconvenience faced by the farmers in the state in implementing digital online payment through PFMS, SNA accounts, DBT, etc, and said out of a total of 74 blocks in the state 27 blocks are still unbanked. Also the staggered release of funds in four installments under PFMS affects the program implementation of Kharif and Rabi. In this regard, the minister requested the central ministry to reconsider and continue with the old system of Release in two installments.

Aye also requested the Union Minister in setting up the AC Organic market in the rest of the 15 districts in the state and also the construction of a common facility with all amenities for the state, national and international levels under one roof.

Meanwhile, Chief Secretary J Alam said that 2/3rd of the state population lives in rural areas and is engaged in Agri and allied activities that give a large potential for commercial production of various crops, however, we are yet to fully realize our potential due to several challenges. Realizing that the traditional system of jhum cultivation is neither economically viable nor ecological sustainable and for which the state government has adopted the Naga model of integrated farming (N-IsF) and is successfully implementing a pilot project in some parts of the state.

And as per the advice and direction from the central ministry, the state government along with the ICAR will be establishing a state Agriculture Research Station (SARS) at Yisemyong Mokokchung and Regional Livestock Center for pig's in the Zunheboto district. The government is also focusing on the supply of quality seeds to increase the volume of production and for marketing linkages or buy-back arrangements to enable farmers to get remunerative prices. And assured that the state government is fully committed to developing the Agri and allied sector as per the national priorities.

(Vihepu IA Niuland)