Limalenden Longkumer
Mokokchung | November 21
Department of Horticulture, Government of Nagaland organized a Nagaland Orange festival-cum-Farmers Expose on November 20 at Yajang ‘C’ village in Mokokchung district with TN Mannen, Additional Chief Secretary and commissioner, Government of Nagaland as the Chief Guest.
Yajang village is dubbed as the “Citrus Bowl of Nagaland” and is located about 100 kilometers away from Mokokchung town, bordering Assam. Yajang villagers began cultivation of the citrus fruit as early as in 1931. However, commercial cultivation of the fruit in the village started only in the 1970s. There are presently about two hundred households actively engaged in orange cultivation.
The chief guest while delivering his speech said that the festival is timely planned and challenged the farmers to engage themselves in commercial scale cultivation and not just for personal consumption. He also opined traditional Nagaland holding and land tenure system coupled with primitive method of cultivation as hampering commercial scale cultivation cash crops. He encouraged the orange farmers in particular citing the fact that Nagaland has vast fertile land coupled with conducive climatic conditions for orange cultivation.
TMNE Nagaland chief Consultant, Dr. SP Ghosh, who was also the chief judge for the various competitions during the festival also spoke during the occasion. Orange farmers from various districts of the state participated in the competition and exhibition where a total of 170 farmers participated.
After the introduction of Horticulture technology Mission (HTM) by the Ministry of Agriculture, government of India in 2001, orange cultivation has got further boost at Yajang village and most of the non-bearing plants, about 70,000 in number, were planted under HTM support. The supply of the quality planting materials from government nurseries and rejuvenation of declined orchards under HTM are already showing positive impact. Once all the non-bearing plants come to bearing, Yajang will have more than 400 hectares of orange bearing orchard. At present, about 250 hectares is under bearing.
The village presently produces about 2500 tonnes of oranges annually, worth more than Rs.1 crore. The inaugural program of the festival was chaired by Dr. N Benjong Aier, Mission Director of Horticulture, Nagaland. I. Alem Aier, Yajang village council chairman delivered the welcome address, while Dr. S P Ghosh made the keynote address. Imtiwabang Aier, EAC Mokokchung MOCED the vote of thanks.
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