Nagaland: Workshop on cluster development of medicinal, aromatic and floriculture plants held in Wokha

District Administration, Wokha, in collaboration with CSIR – North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST), Jorhat, Assam, and ICAR–Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Wokha, conducted a workshop on cluster development of medicinal, aromatic and floriculture plants on December 3 at the ICAR–KVK Conference Hall, Wokha.
The workshop was organised as part of the continuing initiatives under the Cluster Development Programme, following the MoU executed between the district administration, Wokha and CSIR–NEIST, Jorhat, aimed at promoting scientific cultivation and large-scale commercial farming of high-value crops in the district.
The programme brought together farmers, district officials and scientists for a detailed orientation on the potential of aromatic, medicinal and floriculture crops. CSIR–NEIST, principal scientist, Dr. Mantu Bhuyan, delivered a session on scientific beekeeping, highlighting its importance in pollination, honey production and livelihood diversification. CSIR–NEIST, Principal Scientist, Dr. Mohan Lal, briefed participants on aromatic crop cultivation, focusing on species suitable for Wokha’s agro-climatic conditions and their market prospects.
Officials from ICAR–KVK Wokha, including senior scientist and head Dr. Sandeep Deshmukh and SMS (Agri. Extension) Dr. B. L. Mhalo Tungoe, attended the programme and interacted with growers.
District administration, Wokha, project manager, Anuranjan Singh, facilitated discussions, provided clarifications and guided farmers on the next steps for cluster formation and field-level activities.
During the interaction, farmers and officials agreed to prioritise Chamomile for large-scale plantation under the medicinal and aromatic plants initiative. Gladiolus was also identified as a suitable crop for commercial floriculture. More than twenty growers participated in the workshop and expressed readiness to collaborate in the district-wide cluster rollout.
To support early adoption, Quality Planting Materials (QPM) of medicinal, aromatic and floriculture crops under the CSIR Aroma Mission Phase III were distributed to farmers.
The initiative is expected to create new pathways for scientific cultivation, value addition and entrepreneurship, positioning Wokha as an emerging centre for high-value agriculture in Nagaland.