Advisor, IPR and Soil & Water Conservation, Imkong L Imchen, commissioned the Command-and-Control Centre (CCC) at the Directorate of Soil & Water Conservation, Kohima, on 13 October 2025. The CCC is funded by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, GoI, and the Government of Nagaland under the Soil Health and Fertility component of RKVY.
A Command-and-Control Centre is a tech-based hub designed to centralize and analyze data, allowing farmers to interact directly with officials and receive authentic advice. It provides real-time insights on crop and soil conditions, as well as other key indicators, to officials and ultimately to farmers. Farmers can contact the toll-free number for Nagaland, +91 7965192504, for further queries related to soil health and fertility.
After commissioning the CCC, Advisor Imkong L. Imchen said that it was necessary to establish such a centre to ease the burden on field staff and farmers, and to support decision-making, identification, and resolution of challenges related to soils and crops. He emphasized bridging the gap between experts and farmers and highlighted the need for accessible communication to achieve optimal results. He further urged field officers and farmers to foster trust, which would reflect the Department’s progress and commitment to adopting innovative technologies for sustainable soil and water management.
He also noted that the department receives a very low yearly budget allocation from the state government, stating that while the department has qualified officers, potential, and expertise to execute projects, lack of resources has hampered progress.
Director of Soil & Water Conservation, L. Chubaonen, highlighted the technical aspects of the CCC, stating that it was conceptualized and developed as a centralized digital hub to strengthen data-driven decision-making, real-time monitoring, dissemination, and effective implementation of various activities under the Soil Health and Fertility programme. The primary objectives of the CCC are to improve coordination between district offices, laboratories, and the Directorate for better programme delivery using video conferencing facilities; to serve as a knowledge and communication hub for farmer advisories across the state; to integrate and monitor field-level activities such as soil health card generation, fertilizer recommendations, and fertility mapping; and to facilitate real-time data collection, analysis, and visualization through ICT tools and GIS platforms.
He stressed that the centre is equipped with a dedicated server system for centralized data storage and management, integrated GIS software for spatial mapping of soil health indicators and fertility trends, video conferencing and communication facilities for coordination with the Ministry, district units, and field officers, and workstations with Wi-Fi connectivity for calls related to soil management, data analysis, report generation, and monitoring of field-level progress under RKVY and other schemes. With the operationalization of the CCC, the Department aims to enhance efficiency, transparency, and accountability in program implementation, establish a state-wide digital soil health repository for evidence-based agricultural planning, and facilitate timely dissemination of information to farmers and stakeholders.
Later, the inauguration of Bio-Fertilizer Production Units at Rotomi and Seyochung was virtually launched by the Advisor.
MLA Imkong L Imchen flags neglect of Soil and Water Conservation Department
MLA and advisor for the departments of Soil and Water Conservation and Information & Public Relations, Imkong L Imchen, on Monday raised concerns over the neglect faced by the Soil and Water Conservation Department, citing poor funding, flawed policies, and limited autonomy.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the commissioning of a command-and-control centre at the Directorate of Soil and Water Conservation here, Imchen said the department has been “left idle” despite having “well-qualified officers”, PTI reported.
He highlighted the inadequate financial allocations over the years, stating, “In 2023-24, the annual fund allocation was Rs 2.50 crore. In 2024-25, it was Rs 2.70 crore. In 2025-26, it is Rs 3.50 crore — which is not even the annual allocation of a small department.” He added that nearly 100 departmental officers across the state remain without work due to prolonged fund shortages.
“They are rather living idle because no proper funding has been met over the last three years,” Imchen lamented.
The MLA also criticized the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms for what he termed a “stupid policy” that replaced the pre-service training system for soil conservation assistants with an in-service model. He explained that the previous pre-service system at the Zubza Institute, the only subject-specific training institute in India, produced skilled and employable candidates.
“The P&AR department has spoiled the system… imposing a policy that makes trainees salaried even before employment. That is stupidity,” Imchen said.
He further pointed out that the Zubza Soil Conservation Training Institute, which trained 439 candidates over 21 batches, was once a model institution. The revised service rules now mandate government-funded in-service training, which he described as a financial burden and an illogical approach.
Imchen also drew attention to the departmental structure, noting that while Nagaland has separate departments for land and water resources, the Soil and Water Conservation Department, which deals directly with both, remains under the agriculture department. “In all practical terms, our department is a small seal under agriculture. It cannot be termed as a full-fledged department,” he said.
On project implementation, he added that only one Detailed Project Report (DPR) worth Rs 35 crore — the ‘Rejuvenation of Mines and Spoiled Areas’ scheme under the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti — has been approved since 2015. (Source: PTI)
