Nagaland needs to adopt scientific, modern farming, says Nagaland CM

KISAMA — Taking cognisance of Nagaland being a consumer society, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Saturday underscored the need for the state to adopt scientific and modern farming methods to become food self-sufficiency.

Highlighting the global food security concerns influenced by polity, climate change, shifts in seasons and rainfall patterns, which ultimately affect the farmers, the chief minister reminded that Nagaland and other Northeastern states rely on food grain supplies from mainland India.

Rio was speaking at the inaugural programme of the Millet Festival at the Organic Pavilion, Naga Heritage Village Kisama, organised by the department of Agriculture, as part of the culmination of the International Year of Millets (IYoM) 2023, Nagaland Chapter.

Maintaining that Nagaland has a literate and educated society with technically trained personnel in different disciplines, he however lamented that these trained personnel are not utilising their knowledge to become progressive farmers.

He emphasised on the need to incorporate modern farming with technical knowledge and scientific research, in order to enhance production and attain self-sufficiency in food.

Stressing on the importance of self-sufficiency, the chief minister challenged the professionally educated individuals to venture into meat and milk production, to reduce reliance on imports.

Expressing delight that farmers, especially from the eastern areas of Nagaland, are cultivating traditional crops like millets, Rio urged the farmers from other areas to start cultivating millets.

He further emphasised on the Agriculture department's role in purchasing and distributing quality seeds to encourage farming in all sectors.

Advisor for Agriculture, Mhathung Yanthan, in his speech, highlighted the resurgence of millets in diet and agricultural practices.

Pointing out the increase in millets production from 12,000 to 19,000 hectares during IYoM 2023, Yanthan said the manifold increase in demand of millet is also positively impacting the livelihood of farmers.

Yanthan also informed that there are some companies which are willing to undertake contractual millet farming in Nagaland and assured the government's support in different aspects.

He further said that department has already started Geographical Indication (GI) registration for four prominent varieties of millet which are indigenous and are endemic to Nagaland. The registration is likely to be completed by early next year, he added.