Glimpses of 2nd Nagaland Potato Festival 2025 at Jakhama Local Ground on May 9. The festival coined as “Celebrating the organic products of Nagaland,” was held under the aegis of Community Seed Bank Jakhama in collaboration with different agencies. Nagaland Higher Education & Tourism Minister Temjen Imna Along graced the festival as the special guest. (Morung Photo)
• 2nd Nagaland Potato Festival 2025 attracts huge crowd
• 5,562 ha under potato cultivation in the state
Our Correspondent
Kohima, May 9
The second edition of the Nagaland Potato Festival 2025 drew a large crowd at Jakhama village in Kohima district on Friday. Organised under the theme “Celebrating the Organic Products of Nagaland,” the festival was hosted by the Community Seed Bank Jakhama in collaboration with various agencies and featured over 60 stalls along with competitions and workshops.
Nagaland’s Minister for Higher Education and Tourism, Temjen Imna Along, who graced the inaugural event as the special guest, praised farmers and stakeholders for their efforts in promoting organic produce. He highlighted that Nagaland is unique in hosting festivals dedicated to vegetables such as cucumber, garlic, apple, and persimmon.
Along called for promotion of organic farming through the government’s “One Village, One Organic Product” initiative and stressed on value addition in agriculture to create a sustainable food ecosystem. “If our villages are prosperous, Nagaland will be prosperous. If our villagers are healthy, Nagaland will be healthy,” he stated.
Addressing the gathering, Joint Secretary of the Agriculture Department, Khonthungo Kikon, said the festival would encourage farmers to take up large-scale cultivation of organic potatoes, given their high market demand. “This will not only boost farmer incomes but also contribute to the state’s economy,” he added.
Agriculture Director Sanuzo Nienu noted that potato is a vital food crop globally, contributing to nutrition, food security, and income generation. He informed that Nagaland has 5,562 hectares under potato cultivation with an estimated production of 62 metric tonnes. The average net income from potato cultivation stands at Rs 30,045 per hectare, he added.
Col Anshubhan Singh, Commanding Officer of 5/9 Gorkha Rifles, also lauded the festival as a platform to unlock Nagaland’s potential in potato farming.
Festival event manager Vikukhoto Rolnu described the event as a turning point for agricultural enterprises aimed at increasing farmers’ incomes.
The event was chaired by Neivozonuo Zao, with a welcome address by Jakhama Village Council Chairman Zhopo Richa. Kohima Deputy Commissioner B Henok Buchem inaugurated the Thulova contest, while MLA Kevipodi Sophie was also present.
The festival included sales and exhibition of potatoes and other local organic products, display of farm machinery and bio-fertilizers, interactive sessions on organic farming, traditional games, a pork-fat eating contest, and a music concert.
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