On July 14, local tomatoes from Longhkum were sold at Chümoukedima market. While such sale can be considered a normal activity by all accounts, it is elementary to decipher that such step was undertaken as a last minute ‘distress sale.’
Agriculture plays a vital role in Nagaland economy and most of the rural population are dependent on it as a source as livelihood and employment. The share of 'Agriculture and Allied Sector’ in the state’s economy as per a quick estimate of government was 29.44% in 2016-17 (A.E). 45.47% of the working populations were engaged in agricultural activities, according to 2011 census.
However, despite waxing lyrical about the sector, the government's gross inability to market the farmers' surplus produces effectively is a sad commentary on the state of affairs in Nagaland.
For instance, a review report by The Morung Express on June 23 informed that even after a decade, tomato farmers in Longkhum were still facing the same old problems - lack of market linkage, lack of post-harvest management system, lack of value-addition avenues; and lack of an organized marketing network.
Other reports attest the malady. For instance, a study by Sashimatsung et al (2011) on marketing showed that the farmers usually have four channels: 1. producer-consumer; 2. producer-retailer/shopkeeper-consumer; 3. producer-wholesaler-consumer; and producer-local trader-retailer-consumer.
The maximum quantity was passed through channel 3 (65.16%), followed by channel 4 (20.4%), and channel 2 (9.32%). The last was channel 1 (5.08%). The high market margin of local traders (23.51%) and wholesaler (21.55%) illustrate the marketing inefficiency mainly due to lack of storage infrastructure and market operation with the farmer usually at the receiving end, the study concluded.
A study by Dr. Temjensosang & Limasenla Jamir of Nagaland University published last year also noted the lack of market support and linkages; absence of a fixed selling and buying rates of the vegetables and means of transportation.
The problem is not restricted to the village alone. In July 2015, a high profile conflict occurred in inter-state Agri and Horti wholesale market in Dimapur, with allegation of “exploitation of Naga farmers” selling cabbage from Phek in the hands of unscrupulous traders with no positive intervention from any agency, governmental or NGOs. Besides, there was allegation of multiple taxations on farmers bringing in their products to commercial centre by various governmental and non-governmental agencies.
The problem was most recently raised by ACAUT Nagaland on July 9 when it wrote to the Chief Minister urging, among others, “to facilitate avenues to help our farmers to sell their surplus produce in the markets and towns of Nagaland” and reign in "market monopoly and syndicate system" as well as taxation.
This is surprising. As early as 2005, the Nagaland State Agricultural Produce Marketing Dev. & Regulation Act 2005, among others, notified 12 market areas/Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) in the state, affiliated with Nagaland Agricultural Marketing Board. The primary objective was to usher-in reforms in their marketing sector to meet the challenges faced by the agriculture sector. However, the benefits so far have been minimal.
A one way forward would be for the government to revamp its APMCs and its activity must not be restricted to events alone. The farmers must also form co-operative societies and collective decision and spontaneous farmer marketing associations as suggested by 2011 studies.
The government must also find ways to directly procure and ensure Minimum Support Price to the farmers beside insurance for crop failure. It is the basic duty of the state to ensure that the vulnerable segments in the economy are protected from market players and they get fair share out of the transaction. Deeds, not words are most vital for fruitful implementation.
