Tapioca grown by SHGs in Wokha district. Tapioca is a staple root crop grown in many parts of Nagaland. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Kohima | February 25
Blessed with favourable climate, fertile soil, and abundant natural resources, making it an ideal location for agricultural and agro-based enterprises, Advisor, Agriculture, Mhathung Yanthan emphasised that Nagaland has vast potential in pineapple, ginger, cardamom, kiwi, dragon fruit, banana, bamboo shoot, leafy vegetables, while forest honey provides immense opportunities for value chain development. Moreover, he said, “micro-enterprises hold great promise in generating sustainable employment in the State.”
The Advisor was addressing the State Credit Seminar 2025- 26 organised by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) in Kohima on February 25. He also launched the State Focus Paper, which has pegged Nagaland’s credit potential in priority sector at Rs 2106.34 crore for the financial year 2025-26.
Besides these, he asserted on the potentials of tuber Crops in Nagaland, which has however been neglected and added, “our State ranks as the 4th highest tuber crop growing state in India, particularly tapioca.” Dwelling on the vast potential that tuber crops hold for entrepreneurship, value addition, and income generation, he stated that, “with proper processing value addition, and market linkages, tuber crops such as Tapioca, Yam, Colocasia, Sweet Potato can be transformed into high-value food products, starch-based industries and export commodities.”
Stating that this can open new doors for rural employment, strengthen the agri-business sector, and create profitable enterprises for our farmers and entrepreneurs, the Advisor urged the banking community to step forward with greater commitment to improving GLC flow by adopting the following approaches: Bulk lending to farmers through Federations and Cooperative Societies, Joint Liability Groups/Farmers Producer Organizations-based financing, Area Development Schemes and Value Chain Financing to support key sectors, Agro-forestry and Eco/Agro-tourism development, Modernization of hatcheries and fish seed farms to boost the fisheries sector, Cluster-based financing for MSMEs to encourage entrepreneurship, and Expanding the SHG Bank-Linkage Programme for wider outreach and impact.
He also stated concern regarding private bank's reluctance to provide agriculture loans while pointing out that many banks including HDFC, Axis Bank, ICICI, and Bank of Baroda, have almost NIL loans for agriculture. In this regard, he urged the Private Banks to revisit their Policies and take a more proactive role in supporting agriculture and small-scale industries.
Another critical area that needs urgent attention, he said, “is Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETI)” wherein currently, Nagaland has only one RSETI in Peren. Towards this end, he appealed the concerned authorities to expedite the establishment in every District while stating that, “it will play a pivotal role in skilling youth, promoting entrepreneurship and creating employment opportunities in the State.”While credit plays a crucial role in development, he also remarked that, “the Government has the responsibility to create an enabling environment for the banking sector” and urged the State Government's Line Departments to extend full cooperation to financial institutions so that credit initiatives can be effectively implemented on the ground.
