Wokha emerges as Banana hub under ODOP

Wokha district, widely recognised as Nagaland’s “banana hub,” is making significant strides under the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative, transforming banana cultivation into a platform for livelihoods, entrepreneurship, and innovation. The upcoming Banana Festival, scheduled for October 22 to 24, will bring together farmers, buyers, and experts to celebrate this progress.
Central to the district’s advancement is the Vision 2030 for Banana Ecosystem Development (VOCA), a strategic roadmap linking ODOP with scientific cultivation, value addition, branding, and marketing.
Fourteen farmers and five officials have already undergone training at the National Research Centre for Banana (NRCB), Tamil Nadu. A Memorandum of Understanding with ICAR–NRCB is facilitating the transfer of technologies such as microbial consortia, tissue culture, fortified banana chips, banana fig, and stem-based products.
Infrastructure development is also underway, with a proposal for an Agri-Business Incubation Centre at ICAR–KVK Wokha, supported by NABARD. The centre aims to promote circular economy practices and nurture entrepreneurship in banana and tapioca production.
Market linkages are expanding through APEDA, TRIFED, NERAMAC, PAMCs, and private buyers, offering structured buyer–seller interactions and improved returns for farmers.
The Banana Festival will feature stalls, exhibitions, technical sessions, and buyer–seller meets, highlighting knowledge exchange and new growth opportunities. Currently, banana cultivation spans approximately 864 hectares in Wokha, yielding over 11,500 metric tonnes annually. A zero-waste approach is being adopted, with every part of the plant utilised—from fresh fruit and processed products to eco-friendly packaging and medicinal applications.
Branding under the “Wokha Banana” label, complete with barcoding, packaging, and certification, is positioning local produce for premium markets. Online platforms such as Amazon Karigar, Flipkart Samarth, and ONDC are extending reach to buyers nationwide. More than 6,000 individuals—including self-help groups, farmer producer organisations, tribal farmers, and women entrepreneurs—are benefiting from enhanced knowledge, financial access, and market connectivity.
Deputy Commissioner Vineet Kumar stated that banana is no longer just a crop but a symbol of community strength and agricultural transformation. Through ODOP, Wokha is setting an example of how a district can harness its signature product to build rural prosperity.