Cucumbers on display at the 4th Cucumber Festival in Aliba on May 8 (Morung Photo)
Aliba hosts 4th Cucumber Festival celebrating decades of agricultural innovation
Morung Express News
Aliba | May 8
The 4th edition of the Cucumber Festival was held on Thursday at Aliba Village, Mokokchung District, celebrating four decades of pioneering off-season cucumber cultivation by the village’s farming community.
Organized to honor the innovative spirit and dedication of Aliba’s farmers, the festival was graced by Temjen Imna Along, Minister for Tourism & Higher Education, as the Special Guest, and Mhathung Yanthan, Advisor for Agriculture, as the Guest of Honour. The event featured 26 stalls offering cucumbers, value-added agri-products, local handicrafts, traditional food and beverages, along with farmer-scientist interactions and community-based activities.
In his address, Minister Temjen Imna Along congratulated the farmers of Aliba, stating that their hard work and commitment have paid off, earning the village recognition through the GI (Geographical Indication) tag. He said Aliba has made the people of Nagaland proud and highlighted agriculture as a priority in government policy under initiatives like “One District, One Product.”
Encouraging the farmers to continue their work on a larger scale and remain committed to organic practices, he noted that, “We Nagas often want to do everything but seldom take the time to learn the right methods. We copy others without understanding the process, which leads to failure.”
He emphasized the need for collaboration with the appropriate government departments for long-term success. Citing an example from the Japukong and Tsungrangkong ranges where numerous fishery ponds exist but most fish are still imported from Assam, he pointed out the gap between infrastructure and practical knowledge.
Describing the 4th edition of the festival as an incubation phase, the minister urged organizers to include products from neighboring villages in future editions. He expressed hope that through such farming practices, families would achieve sustainability and wealth, provided they approach it with consistency and commitment.
“This is just the beginning of a long journey. Nagaland is a land of over 2,000 villages. Our farmers are our backbone, and the people who live in our villages are our heritage. If the people in our villages prosper, Nagaland will surely prosper. If the people in the villages are united, the people of Nagaland will be united. And if the people in the villages upgrade their mindset, the collective mindset of Nagaland will also be uplifted,” he added.
Advisor, Mhathung Yanthan, also lauded the cucumber farmers for their innovation and hard work. He remarked that Aliba’s off-season cucumber, now synonymous with the village, has become a well-known and celebrated product.
He noted that the festival was not just a marketplace for cucumbers, but a platform that brought together farmers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and consumers to recognize the potential of the land and its people. “This celebration is a testament to the fact that agriculture, when nurtured with love and dedication, can become a movement of prosperity and identity. Aliba has shown us the way,” he said.
Addressing the youth, Yanthan encouraged them to draw inspiration from their elders, continue the legacy, and innovate further. He emphasized the need to move away from traditional subsistence agriculture toward a more business-oriented, income-generating approach.
Following the formal program, visitors enjoyed stall tours, traditional games including a cucumber-eating competition, and live music performances.
The festival also honoured two outstanding farmers: Merangkala Imchen (female category) and Limatoshi Kichu (male category), in recognition of their exemplary commitment to sustainable cucumber cultivation.
