Be more supportive to farmers, Kronu tells banking sectors

EMN
DIMAPUR, MARCH 26

Parliamentary Secretary for Horticulture, Neiba Kronu today urged the Banking sectors to be more supportive to the farmers in their horticultural ventures.
Stating that horticulture sector is the only way to change the face of the State’s economy, Kronu, therefore, told the Banks to understand the need and provide financial assistance to the farmers in every way possible.
“Unlike other states, Nagaland does not have big agricultural lands and hence horticulture sector is the only way we can change the face of the State’s economy and whose scope is widening day by day.”
The Parliamentary Secretary said this while addressing the State level awareness campaign of National Horticulture Board (NHB) schemes including accreditation of Horticultural Nurseries at Hotel Legacy being organized by the Department of Horticulture.
Further stating that production without marketing will be futile, Kronu mulled the opening of a marketing hub in Guwahati and New Delhi for Naga horticultural products. On this line, he informed that talks are on with the Railway Ministry, and expressed hope that the Ministry will consider the proposal very soon.
Kronu also stressed on the paramount importance of using quality planting materials for enhancing quality production in the horticultural sector and therefore urged the farmers to go for accreditation of nurseries through NHB as this could benefit them through supply of quality planting materials to not only the states but to other States.
Adding that the Government of India had agreed to place funds for the same, he said the ball is now in the court of the Nagas to perform and show the desired results. He also highlighted that the revival of Departmental Nurseries was under progress since 2013-14 and will soon be accreditated with the NHB. While also encouraging the farmers to take up one type of enterprise with full sincerity and dedication for better results, he said the Department has embraced the policy of compact area development and horticulture corridors for better market. He added that this has been initiated along the national and state highways.
Also acknowledging the importance of promoting indigenous horticultural crops, Kronu informed that some of the indigenous crops like Tree-tomato, wild apple, Tree-bean (Yongchak), Local chive, Mechinga, etc, have already been tested for various quality parameters from CFTRI, Mysore. He further urged that such kinds of tests should also be performed for the various horticultural crops produced in the State for better marketability.
The Parliamentary Secretary also urged the farmers to take up low-volume high-value horticultural crops for effective marketing and enhanced income, while he also acknowledged the NHB for their concern in promoting horticulture and accreditation of nurseries in the State for production of quality planting materials.
The programme was attended by the Department officials and about 76 farmers from across the State.
The programme was chaired by Watienla Jamir, Director & Mission Director (HMNEH) while Pawan Kumar, joint director of Horticulture delivered the welcome address.
SK Singh, deputy director, NHB Guwahati presented the highlights of the programme and the vote of thanks was tendered by Dr. RE Lotha, deputy director of Horticulture.
In the technical session, SK Singh, Deputy Director (NHB-Guwahati) spoke on the role of NHB in commercial horticulture development and accreditation of horticulture nurseries, while the status of horticulture nurseries in Nagaland and importance of quality planting materials were highlighted by Pawan Kumar, joint director of Horticulture.
Dr. Sarat Saikia, chief scientist, Horticultural Research Station, AAU, Kahikuchi spoke on the basic principles of fruit nursery raising and its management, while Bendang Aier, AGM-NABARD highlighted on the financial support available from NABARD for promotion of horticulture in Nagaland and David Kire, chief manager, Lead Bank (SBI) enumerated on the financial support by the banking sector for promotion of Horticulture in Nagaland.
The technical session was followed by an interactive session with the farmers and officials, where various issues on the technical aspects of horticulture production and accreditation of nurseries were discussed at length.