DIMAPUR, MARCH 28 (DIPR): Nagaland Governor Shyamal Datta today opened the Plenary Session of North-East Energy Horizons in Agri Industries as the chief guest at the conference hall of the North-East Agri Expo 2006 premises. Addressing the gathering of various luminaries, guest industrialists and corporate houses, he said their presence has made them smell the wind of change in the NE region. Recalling the year 1994 when the State Government made their first contact with the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and then in the year 2002 in Kohima when the CII dignitaries were hosted, he said, it has taken four long years to change their mindset towards the NE region.
Mentioning that agriculture is very stagnant in NE region 'which is nature’s paradise,' capabilities were not matched by capacity. He called upon the investors to focus on production and agricultural marketing area and assured that the Government will provide infrastructural facilities wherever needed. The farmers in the region including Nagaland have comparatively good products but lack marketing facilities. Nagaland annually imports agricultural produces worth crores of rupees which he said would be an avenue for the State if it produces on its own. However, he advised that the NE region must first meet their demand and requirement and only after achieving it, look for exports. On the other hand, he also said that the public must not only ask or depend on the Government but they must stand on their own feet too.
He called upon the investors to empathise with the people of the region and help the farmers in adapting to the technological applications keeping in mind the environment aspect. Chairman CII NE Region Depankar Chatterji remarked that in spite of Green Revolution and White Revolution, problems in agriculture still refuse to go away. He said NE region is yet to come into the main stream of technology in agriculture and that it needs to be done with all earnestness. Additional Secretary, Extension ,Govt. of India, Dr. C. D. Mishra in her address highlighted that agriculture, floriculture, horticulture sectors in the NE region have great potential to develop. She also commented on the profile of the NE women who were doing quite well compared to their other counterparts. On investment in the North-East, she mentioned that Crop Approach is the best approach which has to be addressed.
Commenting on the fertility and rain abundance in the NE region, Additional Secretary (DAC), Government of India R. S. Pandey called upon the corporate houses and industries to take risk and create opportunities and invest in the region. Joint Secretary (H & AH Dairy and Fishery) Arvind Kaushal stressed on the importance of livestock farming which generates the highest rate of employment than other sectors in the region. He said that NE as a region and Nagaland in particular show the highest consumption of meat in the country with 61 %. Therefore, importance should be given to livestock farming, he added. Chairman and Managing Director NEDFI Gawahati, K. N. Hazarika said that technological importance of NE was realised in the absence of industry. There are about one lakh thirty thousand SHGs in the region which are operating under the aegis of NEDFI, saying that horticulture mission has a positive impact in the region any potential investor would be sure of local support. He also said that NEDFI would also facilitate any dialogue between investors and concerned Governments of the region.
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