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Commissioner & Secretary Y Kikheto Sema with others during his visit to horticulture farms in Kohima district on February 12.
Kohima, February 12 (MExN): Commissioner & Secretary of Horticulture Department, Government of Nagaland, Y Kikheto Sema, IAS visited horticulture farms in Kohima district accompanied by Director of Horticulture, Dr Elithung Lotha with other officers and field staff on February 12.
The team visited Chiechama where farmers are cultivating varieties of Onion on “trial basis.” Dr Senka Jamir, District Horticulture Officer, Kohima in a press release stated that “last year it was found there is no problem and the sell in the market was also good. It was observed that good sizes of Onions were harvested but the smell was not strong.”
The Commissioner & Secretary observed that intervention is necessary and urged the officers and field staff to identify the variety of onion that would bear better result. He said that Onion in an integral part of diet in the mainland and whenever there is shortage in the market, if Nagaland can sustain the demands, it would ease some issues during crisis.
Kikheto also suggested to declare Chiechama as “Onion village” Kikheto said. He asked the officers and field staff to find out what is the off season of Onion in the mainland and try to harness it.
He also directed officers to introduce sprinkler irrigation for Onion farm during off season.
The Commissioner & Secretary, said that from next year, the Department should target one village in each district for Onion farming in order to meet the respective demands. “Let us not do different things but do it differently,” he said.
He also emphasized that the Department should focus more on attendance in the field than sitting in offices since “our work is field centric.” The Department should go in search of farmers and should not be confined to Kohima or district headquarters, he said while adding that there should be more of farm trainings and reduce frequent meetings.
Further, he said that the state government should also come out with a decision where we may have to avoid import of crops which could be grown in Nagaland. “Unless we appreciate our own crops how can we expect market?” he said. “We are unable to create market since we practise scattered farming rather than cluster area farming and that too on small scale,” he said while pointing out that the Department should not unnecessarily recommend any farming project just because it comes from influential people or with political backing. “Crops cannot be grown on political colour but on feasibility,” he said.
He instructed the Director to plan out a chart to visit all districts where immense impact could be created in the life of farmers.
During the tour the officers also visited Integrated Farm, Chiechama where dragon fruit, sandalwood, coffee etc are grown. They also visited other horticulture projects at Chiechama and Chiephobozou.
Chichema Village Youth Organization President, Keneingusa Rupreo and Secretary, Ngahetuo Sopfu were also present at the sites during the tour.
Horticulture projects in Chiechama have been in operation since 2013 over an area of 60-70 acres.
