As part of National Food Security Mission (NFSM) 2024-2025, over 100 farmers from Yohotsomi B Khel, Kezoma Village, Kohima, participated in a large-scale millet cultivation demonstration on Wednesday. The event involved sowing millet across a 2-hectare field in Chieza, Kezoma.
District Agriculture Officer (DAO) Kekhrieletuo Yhome, speaking at the event, emphasized that millet cultivation has been prioritized under the NFSM, as it is a declining practice among farmers in Kohima district.
He highlighted that the success of the mission depends on the collaborative efforts of farmers and government support. To ensure a good harvest, the department provides financial assistance and technical guidance as needed.
Acknowledging the labor-intensive and time-consuming nature of millet cultivation, especially during milling, Kekhrieletuo stressed the importance of modern machinery to ease the process. He announced that millet mills would be provided to farmers to replace traditional pounding methods.
He underscored the nutritional benefits of millet, noting its high protein content and suitability as a rice alternative for diabetic patients.
He also pointed out that millet cultivation can be a lucrative income source due to its market value. He mentioned that villages like Kezoma, Chiechama, and Mima are increasingly adopting millet farming on a larger scale, with Kezoma leading in Kohima district.
Expressing hope for the NFSM’s continued success, he encouraged farmers to expand millet cultivation. Kikrosa Naki, chairman of the Kezoma Village Council (KVC), informed that three villages—Kezoma, Kezo Basa, and Kezo Town—have resolved to celebrate Chünyi (Millet Festival) annually on July 20.
He also said that various community groups have allocated land for large-scale millet cultivation and thanked the Agriculture department for its ongoing support in promoting farming practices.
Zadeho Rikha, a village elder and former KVC chairman, reflected on the shifting perception of millet. Once considered “poor man’s food,” millet has now become more valuable than rice, with its price doubling in recent years. Rikha urged farmers to cultivate millet for subsistence rather than exploiting market demand, setting an example for other villages to follow.
The demonstration was attended by officials from the Kohima District Agriculture Office, including the DAO, SDO, Deputy Agriculture Officers, Agriculture Inspectors, Village Council members, Village Development Board representatives, and elders. During the daylong event, villagers sowed three varieties of millet seeds.