Govt. pledges refrigerated vehicles, continued support for Nagaland farmers

KOHIMA — Nagaland government has signed a contract to procure refrigerated vehicles to help transport produce and boost farmers’ income as well as improve market access, particularly during the challenging monsoon season, according to Shanavas C, Secretary to the government of Nagaland and State Project Director (SPD) of FOCUS Nagaland.

Assuring the government’s support for farmers at the inaugural session of a Buyer-Seller Meet held in Kohima on Monday, the official highlighted the progress made under the FOCUS Nagaland project, funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

The project, initially covering eight districts, has expanded to nine with the bifurcation of Kohima and Tseminyu districts, facilitating the formation of 16 farmer producer organisations (FPOs), each receiving seed funding. Though initially slated to end in March, the project received a nine-month extension until December, he said.

The meet, held at DUDA guest house in Kohima, focused on developing business partnerships between input-output companies and FPOs, and brought together over 50 representatives from the 16 FPOs, along with buyers from across the country.

Shanavas acknowledged the challenges encountered during the project’s implementation, stating that late disbursement of seed funds had caused a hurried formation of FPOs and limited the time for hand-holding support.

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Addressing concerns about the project’s future, he said that an exit strategy is in place and FPO data is being submitted to the Ministry to secure ongoing support. He praised the quality of Nagaland’s agricultural products, citing Medziphema and Molvom’s pineapples, kiwis, and persimmons as examples.

While acknowledging the hard work of Nagaland farmers, Shanavas pointed out challenges in packaging, marketing, and obtaining organic certification, often limiting produce to local markets. “Rougher seas make tougher captains”, he remarked, while encouraging FPOs to look beyond immediate challenges and focus on increasing production to meet larger market demands.

Furthermore, he emphasised the need for food processing and innovative practices, and urged participants to view the event as a starting point rather than a one-off.

Meanwhile, Sunil Kumar, Managing Director of Synergy Technofin Pvt Ltd, highlighted the need for innovative partnerships and streamlined processes to connect FPOs with markets.

He shared a successful trial initiative involving Medziphema pineapples marketed through Big Basket, stating that the product’s superior quality attracted significant consumer interest and higher price points. However, logistical hurdles, such as transporting produce from farms to hubs, limited the project’s scalability.

He praised the progress of Nagaland’s FPOs and expressed hope that the event would foster collaborative ventures, driving tangible changes and long-term growth in the region’s agricultural sector.

SL Peter of Synergy Technofin Pvt Ltd also spoke, sharing the journey of FPOs under FOCUS Nagaland. The inaugural session was followed by technical sessions for participants.

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