Chizokho Vero
May 1
Kohima (MExN): Nagaland’s Agriculture Minister Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu asserted that he wanted to see Nagaland turning into a self sufficient producing state rather than a consuming state in view of the declaration of the year 2006 as the “Year of Farmers.”
Since 85 per cent of the people in the state engage in agriculture, the government was of the idea that our farmers should be trained up and to create awareness so that our state can become self sufficient, the Minister told The Morung Express.
He, however, regretted that the State is yet to net surplus in any agricultural produce where all money is going to others as a result of this dependency.
Nienu maintained that the government had received well-deserving response from the farmers relating to the “Year of Farmers.
“So far, the participation of the farmers is extremely good”, Nienu added.
Justifying that the “Year of farmers” has been designed to enhance the agriculture production as well as boosting the economy of the people, Nienu asserted that the Government was serious and will implement the same in letter and spirit.
Urging the farmers to be sincere and avail the opportunity, Nienu said “Without the full participation of the farmers, the programme will be a failure.”
The Minister also revealed that the state government was planning to open more wayside marketing places across the state. This will certainly encourage the farmers to sell their products, he said.
Reiterating that the government will continue to carry out the ‘buy back policy’, the minister assured to make the Agricultural Product Marketing Committee (APMC) even stronger as well as formation of Village Marketing Committee (VMC) to help the farmers in selling their products.
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