Staff Reporter
Electric dryer, washer and slicer machines were installed here, on Tuesday, at Nagaland State Agricultural Marketing Board (NSAMB) complex, agri-expo site, 4th mile.
The machine rooms were inaugurated by deputy commissioner (DC) Dimapur, Rajesh Soundararajan.
The DC shared that agri-market linkages were crucial since these services involved planning, organising, directing and handling of agricultural produce to assist farmers, intermediaries and consumers.
NSAMB managing director G Ikuto Zhimomi informed that the machines would be used for ginger, turmeric, local chilli and king chilli besides fruits.
He stated that the main objective of the marketing board was to market the organic produce and that from the month of January till May 1, 2021, the farmers produce comprised of 1.30 metric tonnes, in an average of 33 metric tonne of items (wild fruits and cultivated organic crops) per month.
He said that 65 items were procured from different agri produce from 11 districts except Noklak district where the board was yet to establish a sub-office.
Out of the items procured, maximum items were obtained from Zunheboto, Kohima, Tuensang and Mon as leading districts.
With ginger making the maximum produce, he informed that so far, out of the 65 procured items, 50 metric tonnes comprised of ginger from the 11 districts, of which 35 metric tonnes were marketed out through daily AC market as well as exporting them outside the state. He further informed that 15 metric tonnes of items that remained would be put for dry processing.
The marketing board also has a cold storage of hundred metric tonne capacity, AC market, a thousand metric tonnes of dry storage, godowns and store.
It may be mentioned that air condition (AC) market was inaugurated in the month of December 2020, which would probably be the first of its kind in the whole of North East.
The cold storage and AC market consumes three source of power supply solar, grid electricity and general which generates 24/7 power supply.
Ikuto said that the cold storage facility and AC market ran on solar energy in the day. He informed that NSAMB was affiliated to the national board, confederation of state agriculture marketing board and was notified by the state government as nodal agency for agricultural export policy implementation on February, 2019. A committee constituted by the state government has recommended that the NSAMB should use the facility for air cargo services as well.
In this regard, he informed that any entrepreneurs could make use of the facility on nominal rental payment.