Nagaland Govt. motivates farmers in marketing organic produce

Kohima, Sep.21 (ANI): To promote organic agri-business in Nagaland, the State horticulture department has undertaken several initiatives to encourage farmers to take up organic farming.

The Department of Horticulture of Nagaland is working closely with farmers in Mokokchung district. Recently, a sales day of organic tomatoes and chillies was organized in Kohima.

The objective was to encourage farmers and help them find a market for their organic produce.

10,000 kilograms of tomatoes and 2,000 kgs of chillies were brought from Longkhum and Longsa villages, about 182 and 170 kms from Kohima respectively.

Tomatoes were sold at Rs.30 per kg, while chilies were sold at Rs.25 per kg.

"In Mokokchung we have problems in marketing our produce. So we approached the horticulture department and they are helping us. They have provided us with transport and challans. They have also coordinated with the district administration, the Kohima Chambers of Commerce and Industries and allowed us to sell our produce here," said Rongpang Longpang, a farmer.

"In our village the market is full of such produce, so we are here in Kohima to sell them with the assistance of the state horticulture department and we are grateful to them. All the farmers from the village have come here," said Moa, a farmer.

The State government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Bangalore-based International Competence Centre for Organic Agriculture (ICCOA) to promote organic agriculture and its trade in the state.

The three-year project would focus on prioritized activities such as training of farmers, plant protection measures, organic certification of crops and market linkages. By Vibou Ganguly (ANI)