APC Kikheto Sema and others during the inauguration of Naturally Nagaland outlet in Kohima on November 1. (DIPR Photo)
Kohima, November 1 (MExN): Nagaland’s Agriculture Production Commissioner Kikheto Sema on Monday inaugurated the first ‘Naturally Nagaland’ outlet in Kohima, the state DIPR informed.
In his inaugural speech, Kikheto stated that Naturally Nagaland was conceptualised by the State Government under the initiative of former Chief Secretary late Temjen Toy in November 2019 who has a vision to promote farmers, entrepreneurs, self-help groups of Nagaland. It fulfills the commitment of the State Government wherein Chief Minister and Minister-in-charge of Finance, in his budget speech on February 18, emphasised on the importance of Agri & Allied products, for promotion of farmers and entrepreneurs’ products, he said.
Stating that the first outlet in the state was launched at 4thmile, Dimapur earlier in July, the APC highlighted that, the responsibility of State Government is to provide hand holding to the farmers and entrepreneurs to come forward to produce more and sell their products. ‘The products of Naturally Nagaland are all organic and naturally grown in the beautiful State of Nagaland. All SHGs, farmers and entrepreneurs may have their own name which can be promoted and sold under Naturally Nagaland,’ he added
He expressed happiness to see products from different districts of Nagaland, and noted that all Agri & Allied departments, Rural Development (NSRLM), DUDA, Handloom & Handicrafts and missions like Honey, Bio Resource etc. are coordinating well and encouraging farmers, SHGs and entrepreneurs to come forward and show case their products under Naturally Nagaland. This will go a long way to increase production and will be able to create employment to the young entrepreneurs, he stated.
According to the DIPR, the APC stated that the State Government would like to see Naturally Nagaland products go out of the State to various metropolitan so that Naga people outside the state have access to products from home and also to reach out to the other people. He also expressed appreciation to the department of Horticulture and NSAMB for sending the products despite the pandemic, and thanked all officers involved for making the concept of Naturally Nagaland into reality.
Additional Director for DUDA, Dr Anungla stated that the outlet was a window to present the Agri & Allied, handicraft & handloom products of Nagaland. She also stressed on being mindful of quality control and value addition of all finished and processed products in order to meet the prescribed bench marks of products that go out in the markets. On this, she said that nutrition value of each product should be displayed to help consumers identify the nutritional content, along with FSSAI registration of products, and proper packaging to ensure that the origin of every product is mentioned. She also informed the officers present in the programme that Dimapur outlet is doing well in promoting as well as facilitating the sale of products.
