‘Nagaland has potential to be sunrise zone for food processing’

Dimapur, August 11 (EMN): Chief Secretary, Pankaj Kumar said the state is endowed with various fruits, vegetables, and other agro-products, and has the potential to be a sunrise zone for food processing and other agri-businesses.
Stating that there are immense opportunities present in food processing in the region and the significant business opportunity in processing of fresh fruits, vegetables, medicinal and aromatic plants, spices and herbs, he said facilities have to be created for primary processing and secondary processing by infusion of proper technology.
The chief secretary also said proper marketing linkages between farmers and manufacturers have to be established, so also technological support.
Addressing the gathering at the inaugural programme of the “Linking startups & SMES in food processing with government schemes & markets,” conference, on August 10, he urged that farmers and entrepreneurs must join hands to bring in more economic benefit to community at large.
E- Trading is another area which the secretary wanted to be looked in to seriously and urged the department of Agriculture to bring in proposal of amendment of APMC act.
He also suggested that with some of the local farm produces which are the stronghold of Nagaland state must be tried upon in the processing facilities for broadening their market. Besides horticulture, other agri-allied produce including livestocks particularly pork and Mithun and fisheries sectors also need to be roped in for the profit, he added.
Director, ICAR on Mithun, Dr. Abhijit Mitra, in his welcome address outlined the need for organising the conference. He said that the Indian government has also been supporting budding entrepreneur through several incentives and schemes for the development of food processing Industry in various parts of the country especially in North east region.
Director of Agriculture department, Helie Rupreo, highlighted the importance of agriculture and challenges faced by the agri-community in the state. He said farming in the state today is mainly dependent on rain irrigation and alternate system and tools for farming needs to be devised. He informed that the department of has come up with a plan of “Food for all by 2025”. Both forward and backward linkages is critical in the success of agricultural activity of any state and same is the case of Nagaland as well, In which the state is facing innumerable challenges, he said. E- marketing is the future and needs to be taken seriously by all the stakeholders, he added.
Assistant Director of ASSOCHAM, Chetan Vij, said that the event intended to bring mass awareness about agri-horticulture scopes which could turn into a game changer for the state.
Announcing that Nagaland has been on top in ASSOCHAM’s radar, he informed that a three-day workshop-cum-exhibition involving the farmers would be conducted between October and November, to give a special emphasis in the larger interest of the farmers.
The programme was organised by ASSOCHAM and Ministry of Food processing Industries, Government of India in partnership with ICAR-NRC on Mithun, Medziphema and Department of Industry.