Nagaland’s decision to draft a new agricultural policy comes not a moment too soon. As the state grapples with the triple challenge of climate change, shifting societal attitudes toward farming, and a stagnating rural economy, this policy could mark a turning point; that is, if it translates vision into verifiable change.
Advisor for Agriculture Mhathung Yanthan’s recent remarks at the Cucumber Festival in Aliba village reveal a rare clarity of intent. “Agriculture has to be market-oriented now,” he said, an acknowledgment that is both timely and necessary. For too long, agriculture in Nagaland has been framed within a subsistence paradigm, more aligned with cultural identity than economic viability. That identity is not to be abandoned, but it must evolve to meet the pressures of a changing world.
To be clear, this is not simply about increasing yield or encouraging farmers to sell more produce. It is about reshaping the entire agricultural ecosystem. From seed to shelf, every link in the chain must be reimagined.
Nagaland’s farmers have long produced high-quality crops. The problem is not quality or even demand. The problem is scale and structure. Without post-harvest infrastructure, cold storage, collection centres, and reliable transportation networks, the state’s agricultural economy will continue to be fragmented and fragile.
The push toward a market-oriented model also signals a shift in how farming is viewed by the younger generation. A policy that modernizes agriculture, integrates technology, and enables value addition can potentially reverse the perception of farming as a last-resort livelihood. It can make farming aspirational again, provided the returns justify the effort. Remunerative pricing, farmer collectives, and streamlined access to both domestic and national markets must be non-negotiable pillars of the new policy.
Yet, policy alone is not a magic wand. Bureaucratic bottlenecks, piecemeal implementation, and a lack of cross-sectoral coordination have derailed countless good initiatives in the past. For this draft policy to deliver, it must be action-oriented, time-bound, and farmer-first. It must embed accountability mechanisms and ensure that every rupee spent yields measurable outcomes for the people it is meant to serve.
In a time of climate unpredictability and economic uncertainty, food sovereignty and rural resilience must become top priorities. Nagaland’s agriculture policy, if passed with intent and implemented with integrity, can be a blueprint for not just survival, but revival.
The only hitch lies in the legacy of distrust. Over the years, widespread corruption and an alarming lack of competence in implementing policy have cast a long shadow over even the most well-intentioned initiatives. For many, new government schemes are no longer symbols of change but familiar instruments for those in power to enrich themselves under the guise of public service. Unless this cycle is broken, the new agriculture policy, no matter how promising on paper, risks being seen as just another chapter in a story of missed opportunities.