Nagaland: Agriculture department reviews FPO activities in Wokha

Our Correspondent

Wokha, 1 July (EMN): Department of Agriculture, Wokha division, on Friday conducted a programme on monitoring of Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) project-cum-review of Farmers Producers Organisation (FPO) activities in Wokha district.

District Agriculture Officer, Wokha, Santsu Kithan, highlighted the importance of FPO and its functioning and how FPO helps the farmers in supply chain markets to boost their postharvest returns.

The DAO stressed on organic farming and encouraged the farmers to take up large scale farming. He also advised the farmers to adopt the modern technologies in their farming, while reminding them that the world has become a global village and that they can enhance their knowledge in farming through even through usage of mobile phones.

Kithan said Wokha district is presently focused on ginger farming under the aegis of FPO Wokha and that the 500 registered FPO members have the potential to produce a large quantity of ginger.

Stating that Wokha District is blessed with favourable agro-climatic conditions for farming, he encouraged the farmers as well as educated unemployed youths to venture into farming and to take keen interest in various sectors of farming like livestock.

The DAO said taking up farming as a profession would help in eradicating the unemployment problem in the state and that various agencies through the Government of India and the state government are implementing different schemes.

He called for collective large-scale production through farming and manufacturing of raw materials rather than selling individually so that farmers can benefit more.

Kithan informed that in 2020-2021, Wokha district was provided with INR 20 crore agriculture infrastructure fund but lamented that no individual or registered society came forward to avail the loan, an opportunity provided to the farmers in setting up their required units.

Proprietor of Tongphi Products, Lanchibemo Lotha, shared his experience in marketing and encouraged the farmers to conduct extensive survey of their products and to apply skills and ideas in farming.

He also shared how Tongphi Products was initially set-up and that presently Tongphi Products is widely sold in the market and in online sites like Amazon, Tribes India and 18 offline outlets in Nagaland.

Agriculture officer Phyobeni Mozhui, highlighted on the role of FPOs in agriculture sectors. The programme culminated with an interaction session which was attended by around 30 members.