Khonoma village marked a historic milestone by hosting Nagaland’s first-ever Chümerie (Garlic) Festival on March 14, 2025. Organized by the Khonoma Women Union and sponsored by the Department of Women Resource Development under the MYKI Village Adoption Initiative, the festival was co-sponsored by the Horticulture and Agriculture Departments. Beyond celebrating agricultural progress, the event highlighted the vital role of women in driving rural development.
Minister for Rural Development Metsübo Jamir, who attended as the special guest, called the festival a proud moment for Nagaland. Drawing from his own experience as a part-time farmer, he underscored the importance of processing and preserving agricultural produce to ensure sustainable profitability. Announcing that the Rural Development Department would establish a small processing unit for garlic in Khonoma, he urged farmers to adopt a long-term business mindset.
“Anything you do, make it sustainable,” Jamir stated, stressing the importance of value addition and market timing to maximize returns. He noted that since garlic is harvested globally around this time, prices tend to drop. However, proper processing and preservation could enable farmers to sell their produce at higher rates later, ensuring better earnings.
Drawing parallels with his experience in tea production, the minister shared that he sells his tea products only when market values peak. He encouraged garlic farmers to adopt a similar strategic approach by preserving their produce to capitalize on favorable market conditions.
Jamir also advocated for organic alder-based farming, suggesting that integrating multiple crops alongside alder cultivation would maximize land use while preserving natural forests. He praised Khonoma’s commitment to traditional agricultural practices, noting that such methods were fading in other parts of the state.
Recognizing the contributions of Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Jamir commended their active role in the village’s economic progress but warned that smaller SHGs risk becoming economically unviable.
Shifting focus to Nagaland’s rising competition for government jobs, he urged the youth to pursue entrepreneurship and skill development. Citing official data, he revealed that for just 74 government posts, 80,000 applications were initially received, with only 2,000 candidates advancing to the examination stage.
To support farmers, the minister announced a Tata Mobile vehicle to facilitate the transportation of goods and reiterated the government’s investment in agricultural convergence projects. He assured that the planned garlic processing unit in Khonoma would enable farmers to produce garlic paste, powder, and oil, further increasing their market value.
Encouraging farmers to move beyond subsistence agriculture, he urged them not to undersell their produce and to embrace modern business strategies for long-term growth.
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