Time to invest in Nagaland, says Kikheto Sema

Our Correspondent
Kohima, July 22 (EMN): Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC), Y Kikheto Sema on Friday urged investors to invest in Nagaland and in the Northeast.

Addressing the inaugural function of the ‘North East Food Processors Meet – Technology Upgradation (sic), Bankers Meet and Investors Meet’ at Hotel De Oriental Grand in Kohima, the officer said that it’s time to invest in Nagaland as the state has been witnessing peace for years, unlike in the past.

Nagaland is the only state in the country that has been created out of political agreement and there was no peace even after attaining statehood, he said, adding that there was no time for the people to invest in social economic development for years.

He said that the Northeast, particularly Nagaland is a “blessed land” with many agro-climatic zones and everything grows well in the region.

While highlighting that the state has a lot of scope as far as Agro-based sector is concerned, he said there are many challenges that reduce the scope of production.

Peculiar land holding system in Nagaland is different from other states and traditional shifting cultivation (jhum) is still prevalent, he said, adding that the state is untouched by the green revolution.

The APC asserted that there are so many challenges that need to be addressed, while maintaining that about 73% of the population engaged in agri-allied practice shifting cultivation.

He highlighted the initiative taken by the state government to mitigate the challenges in the form of modern technology like the soil testing equipment and also said that he had conveyed to the Union ministry to come to the Northeast region, access the ground reality and frame viable policies after taking the topographical and geographical condition, traditional ways and systems into consideration.

Meanwhile, the official also mooted the idea of Naga Integrated Settled Farming, calling for convergence of departments as clusters for sustainability and also to make linkages between farmers and the market, which will reduce the activities of shifting cultivation. This, he said, will cut down the cost of hiring and other expenditure and also pitched the idea of setting up small processing units in the rural areas or at the primary level instead of being confined to the cities.

Further, he urged the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and other banks to identify genuine entrepreneurs and create awareness among the people about various schemes, loans and facilities in order to provide employment opportunities to the people.

Following the inaugural session, a panel discussion was held with panelists from various departments and agencies viz. A Temjen Jamir, Additional Director, department of Industries, Govt. of Nagaland; Subham Tayal, ASO, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Govt. of India; Poji, DGM, Kohima, NABARD; David Haokip, Chief Manager, State Bank of India, Kohima; and representatives from other banks — SIDBI, PNB, Bank of Baroda.

The session was moderated by Dr. R E Elithung, Director, department of Horticulture, Government of Nagaland.