CM Rio flags off the tractors and tata mobiles for farmers during the distribution programme held at the Agri Expo site in Chümoukedima on July 4. (DIPR Photo)
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Chümoukedima, July 4 (MExN): Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Saturday flagged off 35 tractors and six Tata Mobiles distributed to beneficiaries under the Chief Minister's Corpus Fund (CMCF), saying agriculture remains the backbone of the state's economy and urging farmers to adopt modern practices to improve productivity and livelihoods.
According to an official DIPR update, the distribution programme, organised by the Planning and Transformation Department, was held at the Agri Expo site in Chümoukedima.
Rio was accompanied by Adviser for Home Guards and Civil Defence, Fire and Emergency Services S Kiusumew Yimchunger, and MLAs Y Lima Onen Chang and A Pongshi Phom.
Addressing the beneficiaries, the chief minister said nearly 70 per cent of Nagaland's population is engaged in farming, making agriculture the backbone of the state's economy.
Noting that Nagaland is endowed with fertile land, he encouraged farmers to make optimum use of their fields by adopting modern agricultural practices to enhance productivity and improve their incomes.
Rio said the distribution of tractors and Tata Mobiles under the Chief Minister's Corpus Fund is in addition to the farm machinery being provided through the Agriculture and Allied Departments, and is aimed at promoting mechanisation and making agriculture more productive and sustainable.
Recalling his own experience as a young farmer, Rio said he had faced difficulties in procuring a tractor and noted that mechanisation had transformed his farming activities. He urged the beneficiaries to make the best use of the equipment provided.
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He also advised beneficiaries not to sell the tractors or other machinery but to utilise them effectively to increase agricultural production and income, while encouraging them to adopt new technologies and upgrade their skills to become progressive farmers.
Referring to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, Rio said the government can facilitate development through various schemes, but sustained economic growth also depends on the efforts of entrepreneurs, businesses and individuals. Prosperity among the people, he said, is essential for the country's overall development.
The chief minister also called upon farmers to focus on organic farming and value addition, saying Nagaland has immense agricultural potential and should work towards self-reliance while contributing to the vision of a developed India.
Earlier, Principal Secretary and Development Commissioner Y Kikheto Sema said the state government introduced the distribution of tractors and power tillers under the Chief Minister's Corpus Fund in 2006-07 to promote agricultural mechanisation as traditional farming methods had become economically unviable.
He said that since the inception of the programme, the government has distributed 224 tractors and 262 power tillers to beneficiaries across the state to strengthen food security, improve farmers' livelihoods and transform agriculture into a more productive, sustainable and commercially viable sector.
Sema said Nagaland's diverse agro-climatic zones support the cultivation of crops such as dragon fruit, kiwi, pineapple, banana, coffee, rubber and agarwood, adding that the state's produce enjoys the advantage of being naturally organic.
For the financial year 2025-26, the government procured 35 Mahindra and New Holland tractors, along with the required accessories, at a cost of Rs 3.30 crore for distribution to 35 beneficiaries under the Chief Minister's Corpus Fund, he said.
He also said that, for the first time, six Tata Mobiles have been provided under the Chief Minister's Pool Fund. The programme was conducted by Assistant Planning Officer P Yongnyu Phom.
