Dimapur, November 13 (MTNews): Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC) of Nagaland, Y Kikheto Sema said that seven districts in Nagaland are into oil palm cultivation currently covering a standing area of 1,126.85 hectares. The districts include Dimapur, Kohima, Mokokchung, Peren, Wokha, Longleng and Mon. The APC said this during a review meeting of the schemes of North-Eastern states held under the chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Manoj Ahuja at Central Institute of Horticulture, Medziphema on Saturday.
Sema also said that under the National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)-Oil Palm, the Ministry has released an amount of 907.30 lakh rupees to Nagaland out of the allocated amount of 2169.06 lakh rupees for the year 2022-2023. He also informed that the oil palm growing areas of the state has been divided into two zones for which two companies or the implementing partner will be empanelled. In this regard, the Patanjali Food Limited has applied for Expression of Interest and taking over as the implementing agency is awaited, Sema added. In addition, the funds sanctioned and utilized under NMEO-Oilseeds was 72.50 lakh rupees for 2022-23.
The APC also informed that the state has so far covered 13,000 hectares as organic certificate area during phase I and II under the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for Northeastern Region, while 10,000 hectares are under conversion in Phase-III.
Under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, funds sanctioned and utilized by the state for the current year was Rs 566 lakh. He also informed that construction of 120 bedded farmers hostel is in progress at Agri Expo site 4th Mile, Dimapur. The APC also suggested that “one size fits all” policy has to be reviewed so that the State has the flexibility to design as per local needs.
(With AIR inputs)