Mhathung Yanthan, Dr Neisatuo Mero and others during Mithun Mahotsav and Agri-Business Summit for Viksit Bharat 2047 at Porba on June 26.
Phek, June 26 (MExN): ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Phek and ICAR-National Research Centre on Mithun, Porba organised Mithun Mahotsav and Agri-Business Summit for Viksit Bharat 2047 at Porba village in Phek District on June 26.
Advisor Agriculture Mhathung Yanthan inaugurated exhibition stalls in the presence of MLA Dr Neisatuo Mero. Addressing the gathering, the Advisor emphasised that traditional methods of agriculture, deeply rooted in the culture and heritage of Nagaland, have sustained generations of farmers and continue to hold relevance, especially in maintaining ecological balance and ensuring sustainable agricultural practices.
However, he also highlighted the need to complement these time-tested methods with modern tools and techniques to enhance productivity and reduce manual labour.
Yanthan drew attention to the untapped potential of Mithun, the state animal of Nagaland, as a source of economic empowerment.
He encouraged farmers and entrepreneurs to explore the value addition and commercialization of Mithun meat products, which are rich in nutrition and have strong cultural acceptance. He stressed on the need to promote Agri-entrepreneurship development among rural youth and farming communities.
He noted that agriculture is no longer just a means of subsistence but has the potential to be a profitable venture if approached with innovation, business acumen, and proper institutional support.
He urged government agencies, KVKs, and ICAR institutes to strengthen training and handholding programmes to build a new generation of agripreneurs in the region.
Dr Neisatuo Mero emphasized that for India to truly empower its farmers and achieve long-term agricultural sustainability, there must be a strong focus on enhancing both production and marketing systems. He stated that increasing agricultural output alone is not sufficient unless it is supported by effective market linkages that ensure fair prices and consistent demand for farmers’ produce.
Dr Girish Patil, S Director, ICAR-NRC on Mithun Nagaland spoke on agribusiness sector and value addition of meat product in order to achieve higher income.
Sanuzo Nienu, Director of Agriculture enlightened on Viksit Bharat, 2047. Dr B M Sunep Imchen, Director, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary spoke on awareness on vaccination and proper management of Mithun. Dr Kishore K Baruah, Member, ICAR General Body, highlighted the importance of Mithun, value addition and packaging of mithun meat and milk product.
Dr C Chattopadhyay, Former Vice Chancellor, UBKV, Kooch Behar, West Bengal, stated that farmers should focus on business oriented activities in agriculture and development of good market linkage in order to increase their income.
Wezope Kenye, Agriculture Production Commissioner, spoke on importance of farmers and their role in agriculture development. Dr Sanjeev Kumar Singh, Senior Scientist and Head highlighted activities and achievements of KVK, Phek.
The technical session of the Agri-Business Summit for Viksit Bharat 2047 was conducted in the afternoon at the KVK training hall. Online session with Shiv Anjan Dalmia provided valuable insights on marketing strategies and post-harvest handling techniques.
Dalmia informed that the Nagaland State Agricultural Marketing Board (NSAMB) has established different grading standards for kiwi fruits.
More than 400 farmers from various parts of Phek and Meluri districts participated in the programme, and agricultural inputs were distributed to all participating farmers.
The programme was coordinated by Dr Hannah K Asangla, Chief Technical Officer (Agronomy) while Dr Esther T Longkumer, Chief Technical Officer (Soil Science) proposed vote of thanks.
