APC, Y Kikheto Sema, IAS inspecting food processing unit at Mokokchung on September 17. (Morung Photo)
APC visits food processing unit in Mokokchung
Morung Express News
Mokokchung | September 17
As part of the ongoing inspection and monitoring of NEC projects in the state, Agriculture Production Commissioner, Y. Kikheto Sema IAS inspected the ongoing works of Fruits and Vegetables Processing Unit at Mokokchung on September 17.
Kikheto said he was impressed with the progress of the work which has completed nearly 90% of the total work. Total cost of the project is Rs 269 lakh out of which Rs 239 lakh has been released. Briefing the visiting team, Rongsenla who is undertaking the project said the unit envisages to process fruits such as pineapple, guava, orange, plum and lemon besides other vegetables. She said the unit would have started functioning by now if the COVID-19 pandemic had not affected the progress of the work.
It may be mentioned that the Nagaland State Agriculture Marketing Board (NSAMB) is coming up with an Organic Air Conditioned Market with a 500MT cold storage, 5MT reefers vans and trucks, first of its kind in the north east. Kikheto said that the AC market could play a huge role in bridging the gap between the farmers and the market by creating a stable marketing channel throughout the year.
Pointing out that Mokokchung had received the cleanest city award in the region; Kikheto said the food processing unit has been rightly placed in a hygienic environment. He recalled that the state government had facilitated many such units across the state but could not come up to the mark. However, he expressed hope that the unit which is being run by a woman would see huge success. “If not taken up by a woman, this project too might not be successful,” Kikheto said and encouraged the entrepreneur to put in all her efforts towards the project. He said people of the state should look towards producing and consuming from within the state instead of always depending on outside source. Kikheto also underscored the importance of procuring raw materials in plenty and in time to run a successful food processing unit.
Accordingly, one should create proper awareness towards this effect, he added.
Executive Officer, NSAMB, Benri Mozhui informed that the Mokokchung Food Processing Unit under NSAMB is funded by NEC and the unit would be processing only organic fruits and vegetables. He said the Unit has been set up with the objective to benefit the farmers in and around Mokokchung district.
Later, the team also inspected State Agricultural Research Station (SARS), Yisemyong where Kikheto spoke about the benefits which farmers of the neighbouring districts could get out of the Station. He said ICAR Jharnapani was situated far from the districts of Mokokchung, Tuensang, Mon and Wokha and that the SARS could benefit the farmers of the adjoining districts through various trainings. “Whatever research you have undertaken since the inception, you should spread the knowledge and awareness for the benefit of the people,” he told the staff at SARS. Kikheto said that the government was emphasizing on renewed agricultural practices amid COVID-19 adding, “We are not imposing agriculture upon the people but impressing that we need to go back to the roots of agriculture.”
He said the need of the hour was to have such an institute like SARS where farmers could learn various technical knowledge and also by the coming together of all agri and allied departments to impart their know-how to the farmers.
“We need to adopt integrated/settled farming where all agri and allied departments would put in their resources and head at one place for doubling the income of the farmers,” he added.
On the concerns raised by the staff about water sourcing facility at the Station, Er Hotovi Ayemi, Director of Water Resources assured of directing the department engineers to verify the area.
ADC Mokokchung Shashank Pratap Singh, IAS who also spoke briefly expressed optimism that something positive would emanate out of the visit of Kikheto and his team.
The team also inspected ongoing Ladigarh-Longleng road construction on its way to Longleng.
Kikheto is being accompanied by a host of officials including Chief Engineer, Water Resources, Er Hotovi Ayemi; SE PWD (R&B), Er Hozheto; Assistant Development Commissoner, Neingutole Zhasa and Executive Officer, NSAMB, Benri Mozhui.
