Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar, on Monday said that there are six agro-climatic zones with vast geographical variations in Nagaland in particular and the northeast region in general, with vast scope for growing a variety of horticultural crops.
After visiting the Central Institute of Horticulture (CIH) Campus at Medziphema, the Union Minister lauded the efforts of CIH, the state government and the Central Agricultural University in Imphal for working towards providing new technologies and digitizing agriculture thereby boosting production and productivity in the agricultural sector.
Tomar observed that crops including pineapples, bananas, mushrooms and Naga king chillies make Nagaland a unique place in India, and encouraged maintaining global quality standards and increasing productivity. "In doing so, the farmers would fetch good prices which would improve their financial condition and this would further contribute to the country's GDP," he pointed out.
Stating that agriculture is the most vital source of livelihood, Tomar highlighted some of the state and central funding programmes and asked the farmers to fully utilise the schemes. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was working to ensure that the state government receives adequate funds for agriculture and stressed that technology should reach farmers through CIH. He also appreciated Modi's vision for doubling farmers' income and the continued focus on the northeast.
Tomar expressed optimism that Nagaland's farmers would usher in a new revolution in horticulture and also assured that CIH would not be shifted outside Nagaland and that the central government would continue to give sufficient funds for progress and improvement.
Informing that there were about 30 GI registered crops in the northeast alone, Advisor to Horticulture Department of Nagaland, Mhathung Yanthan, requested the agriculture minister to promote the region's unique crops for marketing not only within the country but also outside to create avenues for local farmers and young entrepreneurs. While expressing displeasure over reports of the merger of CIH with the National Horticulture Board, Yanthan feared that if it was merged, the very purpose and objectives of setting up the institute would get diluted.
AAP on streets to save accused, says Swati Maliwal
AAP Rajya Sabha member Swati Maliwal on Sunday while reflecting on the past 12 years since the horrific Nirbhaya case, said that 'they are now out on the streets to save the accused who made the CCTV footage disappear and formatted the phone'.
Captain Gopichand, five others set to fly to edge of space aboard Blue Origin mission
Captain Gopichand Thotakura, along with five others, is set to fly to the edge of space on Blue Origin's crewed flight mission on Sunday evening.
Air India Express flight's engine catches fire, makes emergency landing
The Air India Express flight from Bengaluru to Kochi had to make a full-scale emergency landing at Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) due to a fire in one of its engines.
Security beefed up at BJP headquarters, traffic diversions made: Delhi Police
Delhi Police on Sunday beefed up security at the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters here ahead of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's call for a protest march.
Scorching heatwaves: Rajasthan's Barmer, UP's Kanpur hottest at 46.9 deg C
Rajasthan's Barmer and Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur recorded the maximum temperature of 46.9 degrees Celsius on Saturday, making the two districts the hottest in the country.
Terrorists kill former sarpanch in Shopian, injure tourist couple in Anantnag
Terrorists killed a former sarpanch in J&K's Shopian district on Saturday besides injuring a non-local tourist couple in Anantnag district.
Four generations ruled Delhi but today they can’t even contest four seats: PM Modi rips into Congress
Taking a jab at the grand old party, PM Modi said, “Four generations of Congress ruled the country, but today they are reduced to such a state that they can’t even contest four Lok Sabha seats in Delhi.”
One held with gold biscuits worth Rs 36 lakh
In the fight against the menace of trans-border smuggling in the state of Tripura, BSF on May 18, arrested one smuggler and seized 04 gold biscuits worth Rs 36.6 lakhs.