KOHIMA MARCH 22 (MExN): About 1000 farmers are preparing to partake in the 5-day Agri Expo 2006 extravaganza scheduled for March 27-31 at the Sugar cane Nursery Farm, 4th Mile Dimapur. About 200 farmers from North Eastern states will also take part in the Expo being organized under the theme ‘North-East: Emerging Horizons in Agribusiness’. The Expo is also likely to attract mainland Industrialists, investors, financial institutions and central universities. Besides, Indian firms and institutions, Japanese, British and Italians firms has shown their keen interest and is expected attend the show, said Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio while addressing a press conference here at Hotel Japfu today.
Rio said that 66 Indian industries, 53 investors, central universities like (ICAR) would be part of the show. The Expo is being co-organized by CII, hosted by Nagaland Government and is being sponsored by Union Ministry of Agriculture, DONER and Rural Development.
Rio also said that the Government is planning to make the 100 Acres site a permanent one where all year round activities will be held in future. Rio also announced that the Government is planning to hold a ‘Rice Festival’ as the culmination of the ‘Year of Farmer’. “It is going to be good experience for us. We called all the farmers in the state to attend the Expo”, Rio appealed.
A huge amount of money has been spent on the development of permanent infrastructure like roads, water supply, power supply etc. As earlier reported in The Morung Express, a whopping sum of Rs 2 crore has been earmarked for the mega event.
The amount has been distributed to various departments for implementation of works at the Expo site. Out of Rs two crores seventy lakhs would go to CII, the co-organiser, fourty-fifty lakhs to others states and the remaining for the development of the site. Rio, however, said that by now the actual amount has already soared up to Rs 5.5 crore, which is likely to even go beyond. The state’s share has come around Rs 3 crore.
Special flights have been arranged for farmers from other north eastern states. HUDCO is financing the various hotels and guest houses in Dimapur for the participants and guest on loan, where the state would bears 20% of the interests.
