NITex Business Summit concludes

Presenting a power point presentation, Samir Bordoli, agripreneur and organic farming consultant, said that entrepreneurial farmers should rely on nature and not subsidies that might turn into huge sum of debts. 

Stating that it was time to make farming professional, he said the need for the local people to grow local food and build a local economy would be a great source of income to the farmers.

With regard to farm livelihood which could be adapted by the youth of today as a profession, Bordoli said that, youth being the backbone of the society, the stakeholder should think about providing them sustainable farm livelihood which was more dependent on nature’s products.

On the “conspiracy of food” in today world, he said it was tug of war between cooperates and farmers in the food industry. He added that cooperates are too powerful that it was slowly killing the local produce.

In a PowerPoint presentation, HoD Horticulture Department, Dr Elithung Lotha, pointed out the need to take advantage of the traditional land holding system for building community farming in Nagaland.

He underscored the importance of community farming since it  holds many benefits like environmental solutions, local food security, market sustainability and provide social capital and community amenities.

Focussing on women farmers, Youth Action for Rural development, consultant, Ella Mary, acknowledged all the women farmers for their tireless efforts in farming.

With various developmental schemes, she said there was a growing trend of “feminisation of agriculture”. 

Ella highlighted the various issues of women farmers in linking out their produce to markets like accessibility and affordable collateral free credit for production, consumption, crop insurance in the light of climate change etc. 

She also highlighted the need for equal participation of women in community meetings and seminars, the decision making to negotiating and developing livelihood and financing of technologies that are women friendly.  

Ella further encouraged the gathering to support and appreciate local products which would encourage the local entrepreneurs.  

CEO Window Media and former chairman CII Nagaland, Dr. Aotoshi pointed out the issue of less volume in Nagaland though Nagaland is rich in resources. 

He pointed out the lack of interdependence which he said was lacking behind amongst the farming community.

Dr. Aotoshi said Naga people have forgotten their past and roots and have started to replicate others without building upon the rich heritage which would help them take the State ahead economically. “When it is not inherited, we start to commit mistakes,” he added.

Lamenting on the absence of market for local produce on large scale, he stated that Naga people are engaged in subsistence cultivation and they do not have anything to dispose of in terms of commercialising.

Pointing out the reasons that lacks in the state in being world producer of food, Dr. Aotoshi said that the phenomena of villages becoming ghost villages have been taken place rapidly which needs to be reverse.

Shibah Welfare, Nagaland chairman, Lipok Longkumer, encouraged the gathering to take advantage of the technology to upgrade farming community. 

He said Nagas cannot effort to be poor where they are rich in resources. Longkumer also spoke the importance of organic farming in a community farming. 

Panellist for the discussion programme, were Dr Elithung Lotha and Lipok Longkumer and moderator of the discussion was Business Association of Nagas (BAN) general secretary, Dr. Kukhugha Muru. 

The programme further followed interactive session where queries and doubts were clarified.