Officials during the inauguration of citronella distillery the at Tzudikong in Watiyongpang area, Tuli on August 28.
Mokokchung, August 29 (MExN): A citronella distillery was inaugurated at Tzudikong in Watiyongpang area of Tuli Sub-Division, Mokokchung, as part of an initiative to promote citronella cultivation and develop a farm-to-production value chain for local farmers.
The initiative is being undertaken by the Community Educational Centre Society (CECS) with support from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
The distillery was inaugurated by Pauliankap Bulte, General Manager/OIC, NABARD Nagaland Regional Office, in the presence of CECS Director Subonenba Longkumer and Poji, District Development Manager, NABARD Mokokchung.
The initiative seeks to link cultivation, harvesting, processing and production, enabling farmers to undertake value addition locally and potentially increase their income. The distillery is expected to provide scope for a locally anchored enterprise covering cultivation, processing and marketing.
Longkumer said the promotion of citronella represented a first-of-its-kind opportunity in Nagaland and had considerable potential for farmers. He stressed the need to develop the complete value chain so that farmers could benefit beyond primary agriculture.
He appreciated NABARD and CECS for identifying the livelihood needs of farmers and introducing new opportunities in the area, while thanking participating farmers for embracing the initiative.
Poji highlighted NABARD’s role in promoting rural livelihoods and said citronella and lemongrass were relatively easy to cultivate and had good livelihood potential. He encouraged farmers to continue cultivation, share their experiences and motivate others to take up aromatic plant cultivation.
He described the distillery as a promising business opportunity that could strengthen the value chain through local processing and value addition and assured farmers of NABARD’s continued support.
Bulte stressed the importance of the distillery and encouraged farmers to sustain and expand citronella cultivation and share their knowledge with others so that the initiative could reach more communities.
Citronella beneficiaries welcomed the initiative and expressed their willingness to continue cultivation as a viable source of livelihood.
The collaboration between CECS, NABARD and the farming community is aimed at diversifying rural livelihoods and promoting sustainable, market-oriented agricultural enterprises in Nagaland.
