Organic kiwi, pineapple, king chilly, ginger finding buyers abroad and within
Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 30
Things are looking bright for the agricultural sector in Nagaland as the state’s organic produce has started to get a foothold in the market, not only in the country but also abroad. According to the CEO of the Nagaland State Agriculture Marketing Board (NSAMB), G Ikuto Zhimomi, Nagaland has made good progress as far as finding export linkage was concerned with the Board establishing contact with export agencies based in the country and also businesses based abroad expressing interest to procure the organic produce of the state.
The disclosure was made at a press conference, which was addressed by Agriculture Production Commissioner, Y Kikheto Sema, in Dimapur on April 30 in the lead up to an agri-horti exhibition scheduled on May 2-3 at the NE Agri Expo site in Dimapur, organised as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations in the north-east states.
As stated by Zhimomi, ginger, kiwi, king chilly and pineapple have been the produce, which have attracted bulk buyers. He said that 2021 saw Nagaland exporting 0.3 metric tonnes (MT) of king chilly and it will continue this year as well.
Negotiations are said to be underway to export agar chips, kiwi and pineapple to Kuwait; ginger to Dubai; ginger and orange to Bangladesh and king chilly to the USA. While stating that the state is anticipating the export of 20MT of ginger and orange to Bangladesh this year, Zhimomi added that the total export of pineapple and kiwi, last year, were 2.84MT and 1.34MT, respectively.
“All these are happening through the APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority),” he said. Asked how the state ensures that the produce for export is organic, he maintained that samples are put through laboratory tests in other states.
Agri-horti expo
Meanwhile, APC Kikheto informed that the exhibition on May 2-3 is being organised by the state government under the aegis of the DoNER Ministry and North Eastern Council. ‘Monetizing Agri-Horti and Organic Potentials of NE through Value Chain Development’ is the event’s theme.
It will start at 9:15 am with the Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio inaugurating a Community Market Complex (CMC) at the NE Agri Expo. The CMC has 66 stalls and also a café, which would be leased out to entrepreneurs at nominal fee. “It is expected to create employment opportunities for about 150 young entrepreneurs to sell their organic products,” he said.
According to him, the state government is looking forward to establishing similar facilities outside Nagaland “to promote our products.”
The main event will be inaugurated by Union Minister of State for DoNER & Cooperation, BL Verma. “We are arranging one of the biggest exhibitions, under one roof, under the banner of “Naturally Nagaland,” he said, while recalling Rio’s Budget 2018 speech calling for stronger thrust in the organic produce segment to market the ‘Naturally Nagaland’ brand.
A discussion based on the theme— Monetizing Agri-Horti and Organic Potentials of NE through Value Chain Development will be held in the afternoon.
