Agriculture remains the backbone of our economy, sustaining livelihoods and ensuring food security. In places like Nagaland, where Advisor Mhathung Yanthan recently highlighted the potential of thriving jhum fields in Chiethu, Kohima, the sector’s importance is undeniable. Farmers’ hard work, coupled with mixed cropping, showcases rich yields and income potential. Yet, challenges like climate change, unpredictable monsoons, and limited market access persist. The government must integrate technology into agriculture policies to empower farmers, enhance productivity, and promote transparency.
Nagaland’s forthcoming Agriculture Policy, as announced by Yanthan, emphasizes productivity, market linkages, post-harvest infrastructure, and farmer welfare. This vision aligns with the Union Cabinet’s approval of the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, a six-year scheme starting 2025–26, targeting 100 districts to boost productivity, diversify crops, and improve irrigation and credit access. By converging 36 existing schemes and involving state and private partnerships, it aims to localize solutions while promoting sustainability and self-reliance.
Technology is pivotal to these goals. Digital platforms can disseminate critical information, such as weather forecasts, market prices, and government schemes like MOVCDNER, MIDH, and PMKSY, directly to farmers’ smartphones. Advisor Yanthan rightly urged farmers to stay updated on such schemes. But how can this be achieved? Mobile apps and dashboards, like the one proposed for tracking 117 performance indicators under Dhan-Dhaanya, can ensure transparency and real-time monitoring, bridging the gap between policymakers and farmers. Can the Nagaland government adopt a similar approach?
Knowledge resources are equally vital. Online portals and AI-driven advisory systems can provide tailored guidance on climate-resilient crops, soil health, and organic farming, key focuses of both Nagaland’s policy and Dhan-Dhaanya. For instance, Nagaland’s favorable soil and climate, as Yanthan noted, support diversification into fruits and vegetables. Technology can enable virtual training on various techniques, such as organic farming or agrotourism, which Yanthan endorsed as an alternative income source.
Transparency in scheme implementation, like machinery distribution or World Bank-funded ELEMENT projects, builds trust. Blockchain-based systems could track subsidies and produce from farm to market, ensuring fair prices and reducing exploitation. Cold storage facilities, like Sovima’s, can be optimized with IoT for efficient post-harvest management.
By integrating technology, the government can transform farmers into entrepreneurs, as Yanthan envisioned. Policies must prioritize digital literacy, affordable internet access, and user-friendly platforms to ensure inclusivity. Only through such measures can agriculture thrive, securing both farmer welfare and food security.
