The Urgent Need for Food Security in Nagaland

Food security refers to the state in which all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. It is built on four key pillars: availability, access, utilization, and stability. For Nagaland, where almost all food supplies comes from outside the state, ensuring food security is a matter of both survival and long-term strategic planning.

The dependence of Nagaland on Assam for essential food supplies has time and again highlighted our vulnerability. Whenever there is a blockade or disruption in Assam, the immediate impact is felt across Nagaland, with rising food prices and shortages of essential commodities. Mokokchung, like many other districts, bears the brunt of these disruptions, where even basic food items become scarce. This serves as a glaring reminder that our food security is fragile and at the mercy of external factors beyond our control.

The Government of Nagaland and civil society must recognize the urgency of developing a long-term food security strategy. This requires investment in local agricultural production, improved storage facilities, better market access for farmers, and enhanced infrastructure to reduce dependence on external supply chains. Encouraging sustainable farming practices and strengthening agri-based industries will provide both economic opportunities and resilience against external shocks.

In an increasingly volatile world, securing food security for Nagaland has never been more crucial. Recent geopolitical tensions and violent conflicts in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and growing tensions in the Far East and South Asia serve as a stark reminder of how global disruptions can affect food supply chains. A hypothetical scenario where global conflicts escalate, disrupting international trade routes and food exports, is not far-fetched. In such an event, states like Nagaland, which rely heavily on imports, will face dire consequences.

Nagaland cannot afford complacency. The government must put in place a robust, long-term plan that ensures self-sufficiency in food production. Civil society, including farmers, organizations, and local bodies, must work collectively towards this goal — before we find ourselves in a crisis where empty granaries and blocked roads leave Nagaland at the mercy of forces beyond our control.

MT