Mokokchung, November 3 (MExN): With an aim to harness the profitable agar oil from the agar trees found in the forest of Nagaland, an Agar and Essential oil distillation factory was formally inaugurated by Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio at Merangmen village, under Mangkolemba Sub-division, Mokokchung district on November 2, 2012. The factory has been established as a joint venture of Nagaland Bio Resource Mission, Government of Nagaland and Lao Agar International Development Co. Ltd, HSMM /group.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Lao and Government of Nagaland in September 2011. With this valuable agar tree plantation in the state and its valuable aromatic oil extraction from the tree would add a new dimension in the state economy. Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio officially inaugurated the Factory amidst great enthusiasm among agar farmers in the foothills of Tzurangkong region.
The Chief Minister while speaking at the programme, expressed hope that the factory will bring about economic development in the state, lamented that there are not many foreign investors and many have backed out in the past therefore the many dreams of the government are remain unfulfilled. In this regard, he expressed happiness to the Lao Agar International Development Co. Ltd, HSMM /group for partnering with the Government of Nagaland for the development of the state especially with regard to tapping the rich bio-resources in the state.
Saying that Agar is called the king of aromatics or liquid gold, Rio disclosed that the government is searching for ways to find a license to sell the agar oils to international buyers so that the people can sell the products to genuine buyers under a stable protected price and not to black-marketers. He said that the state government would make efforts to obtain license trade of agar and its produces in international market and its price will be protected. Also saying that the plantation programme has failed the people, Rio asked the people to carefully select the trees for plantation, and to go for horticultural plants.
The mission director of NBRM, Moatoshi Longkumer who is also the Additional Director of land Resources disclosed that the NRBM has developed some special fungus for inoculating in the agar trees. These fungus are said to be of very good quality, and therefore is kept as a mission secret, Longkumer stated.
Demonstration of Agar fungus inoculation and power point presentation on Agar fungus isolation was made by Moatoshi, Addl. Director Land Resource Development and NBRM Director. President and CEO HSMM Group Lao, Habib Chowdhury in his speech said his vision to work with the people of North East had been fulfilled finally with the installation of the factory.
Chief Minister was accompanied by Agriculture Minister Dr. Chumben Murry, Forest Minister M.C Konyak, Parliamentary Secretary Er. Saku and Toshipokba MLA.
(With DIPR Inputs)
