On Tuesday Nagaland Minister for Agriculture G. Kaito Aye said that the Brand as ‘Naga Organic’ an initiative to uplift and promote the Agro-based farmers of the State and the Government is giving all its effort to make Nagaland an Organic State.

Inaugurating an ‘Outreach cum buyer seller meet on organic food production in Northeast’ Kaito said this. The event organized by the Indian Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with Agriculture department sponsored by APEDA was held at Hotel Japfu, Kohima on 20th August 2019.

To facilitate stronger marketing access under the ownership of growers’ organisation, Government of Nagaland has registered the Brand as “NAGA ORGANIC”. The FPOs and entrepreneurs under the mission have already started selling their produces and products under this brand, the Agriculture Minister of Nagaland sldo added.

While expressing the hardships to facilitate market accessibility of the produces he mentioned that lack of market information and linkages with buyers, lack of storage and cold chain facilities, high cost of third party organic certification which has to be borne by the farmers after the completion of Government’s sponsored programme, high cost of transportation from farm to collection centres and to the market due to hilly terrain, lack of air cargo facility and other logistics in most of the Airports in North-East region except Guwahati particularly for the export of fresh vegetables, fruits and floriculture, lack of processing and packaging facilities are yet to be streamlined, However, the Government is taking up measures to tackle the issues that are prevailing and  assured all support from the Nagaland Government to explore the prospects of organic food production in the State.

Kaito also urge the ICC, APEDA and the Buyers & Investors to continue to support and promote the Agro-based farmers in the state to make their venture successful both in words and in deeds and hope this meet will convince the huge potential of Nagaland in the organic food production sector and the immense scope of investment in food processing industries.