The formal launch of the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA) campaign for Mokokchung district was held at Mokokchung village on Thursday, coinciding with the nationwide launch. Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Mokokchung, Chumlamo Humtsoe, graced the occasion as the guest of honour.
Dr. Keviletsu Khate, Senior Scientist and Head of KVK Mokokchung, delivered the keynote address. He stated that the launch aligns with the national objective of transforming agriculture in India, spearheaded by the Ministry of Agriculture. He noted that over 2,000 teams will engage with farmers across 700+ districts ahead of the monsoon season. In Mokokchung, three teams based in Mokokchung HQ, Tuli, and Mangkolemba will cover all villages under the district as part of the campaign.
In his address, ADC Humtsoe appreciated the strong presence of women at the event. He stated that the government’s goal is to drive national economic growth through agricultural transformation, underlining agriculture as the backbone of the Indian economy. He also highlighted that agriculture remains a vital part of Naga culture, even though not all Nagas are directly engaged in it.
The ADC cautioned against the use of chemical herbicides, calling it a form of “slow poisoning,” and advocated for sustainable farming practices to preserve fertile land for future generations. He also encouraged composting of wet waste.
The event continued with a thematic session. Dr S Ruth Assumi, Senior Scientist at ICAR Nagaland Centre, spoke on the scope of processing and value addition in horticultural crops. Imtilemla, Assistant Chief Technical Officer at KVK Mokokchung, presented on soil health.
Dr Assumi noted that India is the second-largest producer of fruits and vegetables after China but suffers post-harvest losses of up to 40%, according to ICAR research. She stressed the need for value addition and improved packaging and presentation of products from Nagaland and the Northeast. She encouraged agri-entrepreneurs to focus on their strengths, minimize production costs, maintain quality, and innovate.
She also mentioned the ICAR Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP), which aims to empower tribal farmers through resources, training, and education, and invited interested farmers to connect with the program.
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On soil health, Imtilemla explained the importance of soil testing under the Soil Health Card scheme, launched in 2015. She discussed topics such as soil acidity and pH regulation, soil treatment, manuring, irrigation, and the need for soil and water conservation in hilly areas.
Departments including Soil and Water Conservation, Veterinary & Animal Husbandry, Agriculture, Horticulture, Fisheries & Aquatic Resources, and Land Resources Development presented various government schemes and policies. The programme concluded with a question-and-answer session.