In a big boost to business, Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio flagged off the first consignment of 1,300-kg air cargo from Dimapur airport here Tuesday containing perishable and non-perishable fruits and vegetables and finished products.
Speaking at the flagging-off ceremony organised on the occasion by Horticulture department in partnership with Airports Authority of India (AAI) and sponsored by Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), Government of India, with airline partners Air India and IndiGo, Rio termed the occasion “historic” and said air cargo services would fulfil a long-felt need of Nagaland.
He said many local agricultural and horticulture produce used to become waste earlier due to lack of an air cargo facility at Dimapur airport. He reminded everyone that the State was rich in bio-diversity and has great potential in organic fruits, vegetables, spices and plantation crops, besides varieties of exotic flowers.
Acknowledging that the State’s farmers have potential to produce a wide variety of organic agricultural and horticultural produces and noting that the educated youth were particularly keen to take up modern farming to produce high quality and highly-valued fruits and vegetables, the chief minister said exporting the produce had been a huge challenge earlier.
Rio exuded confidence, that with the inauguration of air cargo service, farmers and entrepreneurs would take the export prospect seriously and suggested exporting perishable products and processed food to all cosmopolitan cities and beyond.
He also insisted that quality of the produce should be consistent and high to drive the demand and make the State’s slogan “Naturally Nagaland” a reality. He urged the departments involved to educate farmers by organising seminars and workshops, and not just stick to demonstrations or work on pilot projects.
Calling for empowering of entrepreneurs and enabling them to become a partners in the supply chain, Rio welcomed proposals from the horticulture department in this regard, so as to create an integrated supply chain of fruits and vegetables.
Delivering keynote address, AAI, Northeast regional executive director M Suresh said even though the air cargo service was a small part of the airport operation, it would have a huge impact on local economy and the aviation industry. He said the inauguration of air cargo service would create opportunities for operating bigger aircraft from Dimapur airport in near future.
He recalled that Dimapur airport was earlier under armed forces before AAI took it over in 1987 and claimed that since then AAI was working for development of its infrastructure.
Mentioning that the existing terminal building was built in 1998, Suresh said the civil aviation ministry was planning to build a new cargo terminal at the airport with modern technology and urged the chief minister to allocate additional land for construction of the new terminal building.
He said AAI was investing Rs 1,300 crore at Guwahati airport for its upgrade where 50% work had been completed, adding that around Rs 400 crore was being spent at Agartala airport, which was expected to inaugurated by June-end this year.
The regional executive director further stated that new terminal buildings were being constructed at Imphal airport, even as AAI was keen to develop Nagaland heliport
Speaking on the occasion, adviser horticulture and border affairs, Mhathung Yanthan asserted that the inauguration of air cargo service would have a cascading effect on the local economy, particularly on the agriculture and horticulture sector in which the State has immense potential.
With the facility now being provided, he urged all stakeholders to make best use of it and take advantage of the facility for economic benefit.
The programme was chaired by commissioner and secretary horticulture Anenla T Sato, while the dedicatory prayer was offered by Rev Dr Hevukhu Achumi of Thilixu Village Baptist Church, Dimapur.
PHED minister Jacob Zhimomi, sericulture, excise and minority affairs adviser Zhaleo Rio, agriculture production commissioner Y Kikheto Sema, Dimapur deputy commissioner Rajesh Soundararajan and other senior government officials attended the programme.