DIMAPUR, JULY 27 (MExN): Thangi Mannen, Secretary (Horticulture) Government of Nagaland, said that horticulture is the sunrise industry of Nagaland and that Nagaland has the potential and resources to make horticulture into a dynamic industry. However she said that the sincerity and hard work of the people is essential as horticulture is a technical-intensive activity and there are different cropping systems. She was speaking at the inauguration of the workshop on “Preservation of Fruits & Vegetables and Mushroom Cultivation” organized by SASRD, Nagaland University, Medziphema Campus and sponsored by Ministry of DONER, Government of India.
In linkages between academicians, policy makers, private enterprises, researchers, unemployed youths and the major stake holders – the farmers are a crucial factor if we are to nurture and develop horticulture into a meaningful economic activity, she said. The Secretary opined that such workshops and trainings provide avenues to explore the potential of value added activities for waste products of horticultural produce. She stressed on the importance of getting feedback from the grassroots level in the course of such workshops so as to understand ground realities and from there, make coordinated and concerted efforts to ensure that horticultural activities become more viable by providing more income generating pursuits.
Thangi urged the participants to put the knowledge gained to maximum use and for maximum profit and also to continue the process by training others in their own districts. In such ways through the enterprise, implementation, sincerity and pro-active participation of the people, the horticultural sector would become more organized with volume and quality being the main priority, she said. In this endeavor, she maintained that her main agenda is to coordinate with SASRD to implement various projects in the future.
The workshop organized by SASRD, Nagaland University, Medziphema Campus and sponsored by Ministry of DONER, Government of India, is a two day event (July 27 and the 28th). A total number of 12 Self Help Groups, 4 NGOs, 16 unemployed youths, 11 District Horticulture Officials, and 47 farmers from all the districts have been registered. In all, the total number of participants at the programme were 108 (64 females and 44 males).
The Coordinator of the workshop Dr Akali Sema, speaking at the inaugural function gave a summary of the workshop while Prof. D. N Upadhyay delivered the welcome address and Programme Officer, Roukoluo, offered the vote of thanks. The programme was chaired by the Dean of SASRD, Prof. D. P. Chaturvedi. The resource persons are Dr. Akali Sema, Dr. Pauline Alila, Dr. C.S. Maiti, Roukuluo (Horticulture Department, SASRD) and Dr. L. Daiho, Dr, N. Tiameren Ao and Narola Pongen (Plant Pathology Dept, SASRD). There are altogether 9 other such workshops to be undertaken till December 2006 in different parts of Nagaland.
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