Nagaland Advisor for Agriculture Mhathung Yanthan has called for the specific requirements of the North Eastern hill states to be given due consideration in the implementation of major agriculture missions so that farmers in the region receive meaningful benefits.
Yanthan raised the issue while addressing the National Conference on AgriStack under the Digital Agriculture Mission and Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses in New Delhi on August 22.
The conference was attended by Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, along with ministers and senior officials from the Union and state governments.
During his address, Yanthan highlighted Nagaland’s progress in the implementation of AgriStack and the creation of Farmer IDs. At the same time, he pointed out several challenges faced by the state in implementing digital agriculture initiatives.
He said Nagaland’s difficult geographical terrain, traditional landholding systems, shifting cultivation practices and the absence of conventional land records created unique challenges that needed to be considered while implementing national schemes.
Yanthan also outlined several agricultural priorities of Nagaland, including ensuring pulse seed security, promoting region-specific crops, encouraging cultivation in rice-fallow areas and during the Zaid season, and strengthening market linkages for farmers.
The Advisor stressed the need for agricultural programmes to take into account the different geographical and farming conditions of the North East instead of following a uniform approach.
He also appreciated Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for his personal initiative and commitment towards ensuring the effective implementation of government schemes through regular reviews and close monitoring.
Yanthan appealed to the Union government to suitably accommodate the specific needs of the North Eastern hill states under the Digital Agriculture Mission and the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses.
He said greater attention to the region’s unique agricultural conditions would help ensure that the benefits of these missions reach farmers effectively and contribute to strengthening agriculture and rural livelihoods in the North East.
