DIMAPUR, MARCH 5 (MExN): A workshop held today with the objective of furthering entrepreneurial skills in Nagaland outlined the need to develop or rather starting food processing industry on a war footing. Food processing, arguably a new concept to the state, with its myriad potential in aiding entrepreneurial activities as well as economic growth was the focus of the clinic. The workshop, headlined: ‘Linking Small Time Entrepreneurs with Government Schemes & Markets’ was organised by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and hosted at the National Research Centre on Mithun (NRCM), Jharnapani, Dimapur on Friday, March 4.
Minister for Agriculture Dr. Chumben Murry was the chief guest at the inaugural session while Parliamentary Secretary for Industry & Commerce Dr. K. C Nihoshe was the guest of honour. Agriculture Production Commissioner H. K Khulu was also present. The main objective of the clinic was to create awareness on the various schemes and programmes being provided by the government, targeted at developing entrepreneurial skills, particularly among the unemployed.
“What is missing is the awareness about the programmes,” remarked Dr. O. S Tyagi, director of ASSOCHAM in his welcome address. Dr. Tyagi averred that the food processing sector has the potential to provide jobs to 30 percent more people in the rural areas and eventually aiding employment. In India, 30-40 percent of food produce are lost during transshipment, said Dr. Tyagi quoting a statistical report. Dr. Chandan Rajkhowa, Director, NRCM addressed on the theme of the clinic. Putting forth his observation, he remarked that farming in Nagaland is yet to take off on a big scale due to a lack of proper transport amenities and an almost non-existent food processing industry. As a result the state is losing out on a valuable revenue avenue. Pointing out the horticulture sector in the state, he said its performance has been very positive and opined that it can grow even bigger if the proper transport amenities are provided and food processing is taken up.
Food processing, he said, not only leads to value addition in the form of entrepreneurs taking post-production activities, but also increases the shelf life of the crops. Citing some instances in the past when sizable quantities of home grown vegetables as well as fruits ended up rotting due to lack of marketing avenues, he observed: “Neither the consumers nor the producers are profiting”, save some ‘middlemen’ who eventually bought the crops at throwaway prices. He called for a proper procedure to protect the produce.
Chief Guest, Dr. Chumben Murry in his speech said that a lot ‘multi-front development’ has taken place in the agriculture sector in Nagaland since statehood. He opined that the statistics detailing the contribution of the agriculture sector to the GDP has been positive yet in reality it has not had much of an impact on the state’s economic growth. Nevertheless, he remarked that one should see agriculture as industry and not as a subsistence profession which is the presently the trend in Nagaland.
On the state government’s agriculture policy, he said that it has adopted a farmer-friendly policy over the last 5-6 years. There are 18 APMCs (Agriculture Produce Market Committee) all over the state which facilitate farmers to sell their produce while getting reasonable prices in return. Presently, construction of three cold storage facilities is in progress in three districts, while three more such units will be coming up, he said. He cited that in the previous year 300 entrepreneurs were trained on ‘small time value addition work’. The district-wise road shows, he opined, has led to the development of a positive interface. “This was the idea behind conducting the road shows.”
Dr. K. C Nihoshe held that the government is trying hard to invite investors to the state adding that if the entrepreneurs and the farmers are sincere the investors will come. He cited the reason behind investors shunning the state as the present security scenario of the state. However, he downplayed this apprehension by stating that this will in no way affect the investors, since it is a problem among the locals. He further urged the organisers of the workshop to be bold in their initiative to attract investors, particularly in the food processing sector. “The government is ready to help.” A branch of the Institute of Entrepreneurship, Guwahati is likely to be set up in Dimapur, he informed, which will train promising entrepreneurs.
Dr. H. K Khulu said: “There is a need for synergy” while challenging the entrepreneurs to ask themselves whether there is lack of commitment and perseverance or is it procedural hurdles? He accepted that there are a lot of good policies to aid agriculture production and entrepreneurial skills development but there are no tangible results on the ground.
Calling for more credit advance from the financial institutions, he held that farmers and entrepreneurs are facing a lot of difficulties. Nevertheless, he said that the government is taking up value addition programmes in the processing sector while awareness programmes are being conducted on a regular basis. Loans without interest are being provided to the farmers through the APMCs, he said. Another area of concern he pointed out was the need meat processing units in the state.
Minister for Agriculture Dr. Chumben Murry was the chief guest at the inaugural session while Parliamentary Secretary for Industry & Commerce Dr. K. C Nihoshe was the guest of honour. Agriculture Production Commissioner H. K Khulu was also present. The main objective of the clinic was to create awareness on the various schemes and programmes being provided by the government, targeted at developing entrepreneurial skills, particularly among the unemployed.
“What is missing is the awareness about the programmes,” remarked Dr. O. S Tyagi, director of ASSOCHAM in his welcome address. Dr. Tyagi averred that the food processing sector has the potential to provide jobs to 30 percent more people in the rural areas and eventually aiding employment. In India, 30-40 percent of food produce are lost during transshipment, said Dr. Tyagi quoting a statistical report. Dr. Chandan Rajkhowa, Director, NRCM addressed on the theme of the clinic. Putting forth his observation, he remarked that farming in Nagaland is yet to take off on a big scale due to a lack of proper transport amenities and an almost non-existent food processing industry. As a result the state is losing out on a valuable revenue avenue. Pointing out the horticulture sector in the state, he said its performance has been very positive and opined that it can grow even bigger if the proper transport amenities are provided and food processing is taken up.
Food processing, he said, not only leads to value addition in the form of entrepreneurs taking post-production activities, but also increases the shelf life of the crops. Citing some instances in the past when sizable quantities of home grown vegetables as well as fruits ended up rotting due to lack of marketing avenues, he observed: “Neither the consumers nor the producers are profiting”, save some ‘middlemen’ who eventually bought the crops at throwaway prices. He called for a proper procedure to protect the produce.
Chief Guest, Dr. Chumben Murry in his speech said that a lot ‘multi-front development’ has taken place in the agriculture sector in Nagaland since statehood. He opined that the statistics detailing the contribution of the agriculture sector to the GDP has been positive yet in reality it has not had much of an impact on the state’s economic growth. Nevertheless, he remarked that one should see agriculture as industry and not as a subsistence profession which is the presently the trend in Nagaland.
On the state government’s agriculture policy, he said that it has adopted a farmer-friendly policy over the last 5-6 years. There are 18 APMCs (Agriculture Produce Market Committee) all over the state which facilitate farmers to sell their produce while getting reasonable prices in return. Presently, construction of three cold storage facilities is in progress in three districts, while three more such units will be coming up, he said. He cited that in the previous year 300 entrepreneurs were trained on ‘small time value addition work’. The district-wise road shows, he opined, has led to the development of a positive interface. “This was the idea behind conducting the road shows.”
Dr. K. C Nihoshe held that the government is trying hard to invite investors to the state adding that if the entrepreneurs and the farmers are sincere the investors will come. He cited the reason behind investors shunning the state as the present security scenario of the state. However, he downplayed this apprehension by stating that this will in no way affect the investors, since it is a problem among the locals. He further urged the organisers of the workshop to be bold in their initiative to attract investors, particularly in the food processing sector. “The government is ready to help.” A branch of the Institute of Entrepreneurship, Guwahati is likely to be set up in Dimapur, he informed, which will train promising entrepreneurs.
Dr. H. K Khulu said: “There is a need for synergy” while challenging the entrepreneurs to ask themselves whether there is lack of commitment and perseverance or is it procedural hurdles? He accepted that there are a lot of good policies to aid agriculture production and entrepreneurial skills development but there are no tangible results on the ground.
Calling for more credit advance from the financial institutions, he held that farmers and entrepreneurs are facing a lot of difficulties. Nevertheless, he said that the government is taking up value addition programmes in the processing sector while awareness programmes are being conducted on a regular basis. Loans without interest are being provided to the farmers through the APMCs, he said. Another area of concern he pointed out was the need meat processing units in the state.
