Nagaland exports ‘yongchak’ to Imphal

Our Correspondent
Kohima, March 3 (EMN): In a first-of-its-kind move, the Nagaland Bio Resource Mission (NBRM), government of Nagaland, has sponsored and initiated support towards exporting Parkia roxburghii, locally known as ‘yongchak’, to the neighbouring state of Manipur.

The first consignment of two loads of pick-up truck was ‘officially flagged off’ to Imphal by L Thronghokiu, Chairman NBRM, during a brief ceremonial function held at National Highway-02, near Hotel Vivor in Kohima on Tuesday morning.

The product (yongchak) was cultivated and harvested from Chukitong block in Wokha district.

NBRM team leader Dr. Kruolalie Tsurho, presiding over the flag-off programme, informed that there is a visible growth in plantation of Parkia roxburghii that was developed by the mission (NBRM) and also by various individuals and government departments with large-scale production in the state.

He maintained that “despite that fact, the farmers are still not competent enough to organise themselves in sourcing and marketing the produce in large quantity; instead it is sold out to the brokers from outside or individually sold in the local market which fails to fetch their deserving price”.

Tsurho further went on to state that taking advantage of high demand and consumption in Nagaland and Manipur, the NBRM ‘piloted the project’ by promoting entrepreneurship amongst the farmers to take up the challenges of large-scale sourcing and marketing, to meet the supply and demand within and outside the state.

“NBRM has also been encouraging farmers to work their way to become self-reliant and professional producers,” he said and added that NBRM has sponsored ‘yongchak’ plantation in more than 1000 hectares of land throughout the state.

The flag-off programme was held in the presence of officials and team members of NBRM.