Statistical Adviser to the DoNER Dharmvir Jha and officials from Nagaland Government during a coordination meeting held at the office chamber of the Principal Secretary & Development Commissioner in Kohima on May 28. (DIPR Photo)
Coffee, agarwood potential highlighted during coordination meeting
Kohima, May 28 (MExN): Statistical Adviser to the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Dharmvir Jha, on Wednesday reviewed various projects and schemes being implemented in Nagaland with funding support from the Ministry.
During a coordination meeting held at the office chamber of the Principal Secretary & Development Commissioner in Kohima, Jha reviewed the progress of projects and urged concerned departments to ensure prompt and sincere implementation of all schemes funded by the Ministry.
The meeting was organised by the Department of Planning & Transformation along with officials from the Departments of Land Resources Development (LRD), Roads & Bridges, and the Investment & Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN).
As per the State DIPR, the DoNER official also appreciated the performance of IDAN and called upon the authority to expedite the grounding of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and Letters of Agreement (LoAs) signed with investors.
He also urged the Department of Roads & Bridges to speed up the execution of NESIDS-funded road projects and utilise pending funds at the earliest.
Jha further cautioned that all project proposals to the Ministry of DoNER should be submitted only with the concurrence and knowledge of the Planning Department.
In this regard, he asked the Development Commissioner to monitor proposals and projects from submission till implementation.
During the interaction, Jha also took note of the potential of agarwood plantation in Nagaland and assured that the Ministry would examine the matter further after the submission of a detailed proposal by the State Government.
Chairing the meeting, Principal Secretary & Development Commissioner Kikheto Sema gave a presentation on the “Journey of Coffee Plantation in Nagaland,” highlighting the challenges faced during the initial years of cultivation and the efforts undertaken by the Land Resources Development Department.
Sema said Nagaland coffee has immense potential to improve farmers’ income and create employment opportunities in the State. He thanked the Ministry of DoNER for supporting pilot coffee plantation projects in two clusters and for taking up value chain development across all 17 districts.
Highlighting the prospects of agarwood cultivation, Sema said Nagaland’s agro-climatic conditions, particularly in foothill areas, are favourable for large-scale agarwood plantation. However, he pointed out that most products are currently being exported to Assam below market rates.
He informed that the State Forest Department has prepared a policy on agarwood, which is under consideration by the Government of Nagaland, and sought support from the Ministry of DoNER for the initiative.
Sema further maintained that while traditional jhum cultivation continues to remain economically viable and ecologically sustainable for many farming communities, coffee and agarwood plantations could generate higher income and employment opportunities.
He also stated that Nagaland has witnessed relative peace and stability over the past two decades, enabling greater focus on socio-economic development with continued support from the Government of India.
The Departments of Agriculture and Tourism were unable to attend the meeting, the report added.
.jpg)
