State chief minister, Neiphiu Rio inaugurated the Millet Festival 2023, Nagaland Chapter at the culmination of International Year of Millet (IYoM) at Organic Pavilion, Naga Heritage Village, Kisama here on Saturday. The event was organized by the Department of Agriculture.
Rio expressed happiness on his participation in the culmination of International Year of Millet 2023 which was jointly announced by United Nations and the Government of India, for its requirement not only in India but also around the world. He said, the world was facing food shortages because of climate change and unpredictable seasons which directly impact the harvest.
At such juncture, Rio expressed happiness to the farmers of the state for taking up millet cultivation especially in the eastern part of the state and hoped that with the culmination of international year of millet, its cultivation will increase in the coming years. He encouraged farmers to spread good quality seeds to other farmers in the state where the department of Agriculture will take the initiatives.
The chief minister further said that the state has been a literate and educated state especially in technical field but lacked progressive farmers. Advisor of agriculture, Mhathung Yanthan in his short speech appreciated the staff of the department of Agriculture and the efforts of the farmers, crop scientists and policy makers for promoting millet from the neglected crop to regain its rightful place in agricultural practices. He said many activities have been taken up by the department focusing on health benefits of millet, environmental advantages and economic potentials of millets which motivates and encourages the farmers.
Yanthan further applauded the interest of the private companies for the contractual farming looking at the promises of the millet farming. He said that the GI registration of the millet was underway and the government was focusing on it.
Several category of awards on cultivation of millet were awarded at the event: Chingmei Village, Tuensang under the best category, Excellence category to Pessao Village Mon, Good category to Chipur Village Noklak, Best millet award to Women folks of Thuvopisu & Chozuba, Excellent millet to Tseu Badze, Chiechama, Millet Sister Meluri won Good Millet SHG, Best individual millet farmer by Chabao Hamlong from Tobu Village, Excellent individual millet award to Senjang of Chingmei Village Tuensang and Good individual millet award was won by Shingnyu of Chipur village Noklak.
Voice from the field was delivered by Wekoweu Thushan, State coordinator, NEN while Report on IYoM 2023 and Millet Sisters from meluri presented folk song on millet cultivation and harvest which was followed by release of policy brief by the special guest.
Meanwhile, a contract farming deal has been formalized between Brightcrop Agro Kolkata and Tuensang Organic Producer Company Ltd, as well as Mon Organic Spice Producer Company Ltd.
The agreement, encompassing 20,000 kg of organic Foxtail Millet, falls under the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for Northeast Region (MOVCDNER), a scheme by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
Department of Agriculture, Nagaland, facilitated the pact, ensuring a buy-back guarantee for millets, aiming to incentivize increased millet cultivation in the state.