Y Vikheho Swu urged farmers in Pughoboto to adopt modern farming while preserving jhum cultivation traditions.
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DIMAPUR — The Naga People's Front Central Farmers Wing (CFW), as part of its “state-wide appreciative enquiry tour,” visited Pughoboto division on May 23 under the leadership of CFW president and former minister Y Vikheho Swu.
Addressing the gathering, Swu thanked attendees for participating in the programme and conveyed greetings on behalf of the chief minister. He informed the gathering that three separate teams were currently touring different parts of the state.
Stating that the farmers’ wing was not merely meant for distributing government schemes, he said its primary objective was to understand the challenges faced by farmers, communicate their grievances to the government, and identify loopholes in existing policies.
He questioned who truly benefited from government schemes and subsidies when many genuine and hardworking farmers continued to receive little or no support.
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Referring to Nagaland’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030 in alignment with the United Nations SDGs, the NPF leader said the state had envisioned becoming self-sustainable by 2030, while the Government of India had launched the “Viksit Bharat 2047” initiative.
He said the visions focused on youth, women, the poor, and downtrodden sections of society, and challenged the public to reflect on their contribution toward achieving those goals.
Highlighting the “One District One Product” (ODOP) initiative, Swu expressed concern that while several districts had successfully identified and promoted multiple products, Pughoboto had yet to contribute a recognised product.
He urged the people to align themselves with government policies aimed at uplifting all sections of society rather than focusing solely on monetary gain.
In line with the chief minister’s vision, he encouraged people to identify quality produce unique to their respective areas.
Stressing the importance of modern farming and technological adaptation, Swu described ICAR-KVK as an important technical resource for farmers, saying it could help identify crops best suited for specific soils and regions.
Drawing examples from global crises such as the Middle East conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic, he observed that agriculture remained one of the most resilient sectors during difficult times. He urged farmers to move away from outdated practices and adopt modern farming methods.
Citing kiwi, persimmon, avocado, and coffee cultivation as examples of profitable modern farming, he noted that Pughoboto remained one of the pioneering regions in coffee production.
He also recalled the recent launch of the coffee cluster initiative at Tuophema and Ghotovi villages, adding that Nagaland coffee had now attained world-class standards.
At the same time, he emphasised that jhum cultivation should not be abandoned. Instead, he encouraged diversification while preserving traditional farming systems, stating that jhum cultivation carried immense indigenous knowledge and remained deeply connected to Naga culture and traditions.
Swu also highlighted the economic potential of agriculture, saying modern farming offered multiple avenues for income generation beyond crop cultivation, including animal fodder, compost production, floriculture, and allied sectors.
Delivering a keynote address, CFW vice president Hyusin Thyug said the relationship between the Sumi Aphuyemi and Rengma communities had always been cordial and founded on mutual respect.
He further stated that the central team had visited developed, developing, and underdeveloped areas.
Also speaking at the programme, CFW secretary and PA to the chief minister Rukravolie Rulho said the primary objective of the tour was to emphasise the importance of farming and encourage people not to leave their land uncultivated.
He said the tour was undertaken to fulfil the aims and objectives of both the party and the government.
CFW vice president Hibo urged party rank and file to work collectively for Swu and reap the benefits of their collective efforts.
During the interaction session, various government schemes, including National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NSRLM), CMMFI, and initiatives under Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), were also explained to the participants.