Kaisa bats for floriculture-led women empowerment

Dimapur District Ladies Club (DDLC), in collaboration with the Department of Horticulture and Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), is hosting a three-day flower show titled “Colours of Spring” from February 19 to 21 at IDAN, Forest Colony, Dimapur. The exhibition opened on Thursday with Kaisa Rio, lady wife of Nagaland chief minister and chief patron of DDLC, as guest of honour.
Speaking at the inaugural session, Kaisa Rio commended the organisers for conceptualising the initiative and appreciated the department of Horticulture and IDAN for their support. She said the collaboration reflected how institutions and civil society can work together towards a shared goal.
Referring to the theme “Colours of Spring,” she remarked that spring symbolises renewal, hope and new beginnings, and that the flower show serves as a reminder of the beauty of creation and the role nature plays in enriching lives.
She observed that the exhibition was not only about aesthetic appreciation but also about promoting floriculture, nurturing creativity and providing a platform for growers and plant enthusiasts to showcase their talent and hard work. Such events, she said, enable direct interaction between growers and buyers, while supporting sustainable livelihoods at a time when entrepreneurship and self-reliance are gaining importance.
Highlighting the potential of floriculture in the state, she described it as a promising economic activity that, with adequate training and market linkages, could contribute significantly to income generation, particularly for women and youth. She expressed happiness at the strong participation of women at the event.
She added that platforms like Dimapur District Ladies Club help foster leadership, community engagement and creative expression, reminding society that development is also about nurturing skills and human connections.
Addressing the gathering, chairman of the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN) and adviser to CM, Abu Metha, lauded the creativity and enterprise of Naga women, observing that they continue to excel across sectors.
He further acknowledged women’s strong presence in workplaces and their dedication to duty. At the same time, he said challenges remain and stressed the need to address issues such as victim blaming, hereditary and property rights, and greater cultural and institutional recognition for women.
On the flower show and entrepreneurship, Metha spoke about opportunities under CM’s Microfinance Scheme, which offers financial assistance, soft loans and grants. He said IDAN has a dedicated cell to help entrepreneurs access these benefits. He also mentioned initiatives in collaboration with Bank of Baroda and State Bank of India to provide soft loans to flower growers, and shared plans to develop a dedicated flower market in the state to better support women vendors and floriculturists.
Delivering the welcome address, commissioner & secretary Horticulture department and member of Dimapur District Ladies Club Akumla Chuba, described the occasion as a “comeback celebration” for the club, which has earlier organised seven flower shows to promote floriculture in the state, possibly becoming the first organisation to initiate such efforts.