Mentioning that Wokha’s subtropical climate was ideal for banana cultivation, advisor to chief minister, Dr. Chumben Murry called for further scientific research to improve productivity and quality.
He was speaking at the national stakeholders workshop on “Strengthening the Banana Ecosystem for Sustainable Development” held on March 11 at Tiyi Hall, Wokha Town. The event was organised by ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Wokha, in collaboration with ICAR-Agriculture Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI), Umiam, Meghalaya, the District Administration of Wokha, the Government of Nagaland, ICAR-National Research Centre for Banana, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, and Nagaland State Rural Livelihood Mission, Wokha.
He expressed confidence that the Banana Festival would boost economic growth by increasing production, expanding exports, and creating employment opportunities. Dr. Chumben also commended KVK’s efforts in promoting agricultural productivity and emphasized the importance of strengthening the banana ecosystem as a step towards sustainable agricultural development. Reflecting on his tenure as minister for Agriculture, he highlighted the progress made in Nagaland’s agricultural sector, noting that production had increased but still lagged behind other states.
He therefore stressed the need to move away from traditional jhum cultivation, citing its environmental impact, and called for the adoption of sustainable farming practices.
Expressing optimism about the One District, One Product (ODOP) initiative, Dr. Chumben said the project will also increase banana farming leading and lessen jhum cultivation.
He therefore highlighted the need for strong market linkages to enhance farmers’ income and ensure better access to markets.He also advocated sustainable cultivation in addressing climate change and encouraged the educated unemployed to participate in the initiative.
Deputy Commissioner of Wokha, Vineet Kumar emphasized that the workshop aimed to promote sustainable banana production and enhance farmers’ income. He highlighted Wokha as the largest banana-producing district in Nagaland, with an annual output of approximately 11,000 metric tons, making it an ideal crop for focused promotion. He explained that the decision to prioritize banana cultivation was made after extensive discussions with stakeholders.
Kumar also highlighted the need for national-level collaboration and scientific guidance to strengthen banana farming in Wokha. To this, he said experts from the National Research Centre for Banana (NCRB) would conduct field visits to assess current practices and provide recommendations. While acknowledging potential challenges, he reaffirmed that the ultimate goal was to create value for farmers and enhance banana production in the district.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Wokha, Suman Sivachar, praised the initiative as the first of its kind in the district, highlighting its potential to benefit the entire state. He emphasized the uniqueness of Wokha’s banana varieties and suggested documenting and preserving them for biodiversity value. He also proposed pursuing a geographical indication (GI) tag for Wokha bananas to enhance their market value and recognition.
On the issue of human-elephant conflict, Sivachar noted that a recent assessment by the Wildlife Institute of India identified 89 villages in Wokha with elephant presence. He said under the KfW Forest and Biodiversity Management Project in the Himalayas (Nagaland), an Indo-German initiative, the Wildlife Institute of India has been invited to conduct a two-year study on elephant movements in Wokha and Mokokchung.
The research will analyze land-use patterns affecting elephants and the root causes of human-elephant conflict. Based on their findings, a detailed plan of action will be developed for implementation after the study period.
Head of the ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Nagaland Centre, Dr. Homeswar Kalita emphasized the workshop’s role as a key platform for discussing technological advancements and strategies to enhance banana production in the region.
Joint director of the directorate of Horticulture, Kohima, S. Senka Jamir highlighted Wokha district’s suitability for diverse crops, particularly bananas. He said Wokha has been known for its high-quality agricultural produce, including oranges, passion fruit, and aromatic bananas. He also mentioned that the department has designated Meriyan village in Wokha district as a horticulture model village to promote and enhance cultivation in the region.
The session also featured a keynote address virtually by director of the ICAR-National Research Centre for Banana (NRCB), Tamil Nadu, Dr. R. Selvarajan, and presidential address, delivered virtually by director of ICAR-ATARI Zone-VI, Umiam Dr. A. K. Mohanty. Following, welcome address was presented by Senior Scientist & Head, ICAR-KVK, Wokha Dr. Sandeep Deshmukh. The workshop concluded with closing remarks by Project Manager of ETF, Anuranjan Singh.