Correspondent
Minister of Planning & Coordination, Land Revenue and Parliamentary Affairs, Neiba Kronu stressed on the need for revamping the economic losses of the COVID-19 pandemic period through agro-eco tourism.
Speaking at the State Credit Seminar 2022-23 organised by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) Nagaland Regional Office, Dimapur at Hotel de Oriental Grand on January 28, Kronu said unless the State goes into revamping agriculture activities and eco-tourism the economy will not improve.
Post pandemic state have to recover the economic losses and for a speedy recovery, the best way was to focus on agriculture and eco-tourism.
In this, the minister said that the state government was working on promoting agro-eco tourism as the state has immense potential in the sector and it would get a boost with improvement in road and power sectors.
Farmers in Nagaland were not lazy but discouraged due to lack of market avenues, he said while maintaining that currently with improvement in connectivity, the problem of market availability has been sorted to a great extent while further efforts are being made to provide market avenues within and outside the State to the potential farmers.
Nagaland has a very fertile land with hot, moderate and cold places which are suitable for farming, he stressed on giving an edge to trees for wealth, special fruit trees.
Stating that since Nagaland has less land the focus should be growing low volume but high value products like coffee, cardamom etc.
“If we do things, we can feed the entire North East and even other parts of the country,” he said.
He said Naga farmers are faced with financial challenges for which banks and financial institutions need to come forward in extending loans.
On the collateral issues due to land holding system and also difficulties in dealing with the bankers, the minister said the state government has already passed the SARFAESI Act in the State Assembly so that the bankers can easily extend loan while they can sell the mortgaged land of the defaulter only to the indigenous locals.
Appreciating the incumbent general manager of NABARD Tiakala Ao for the willingness to help the farmers by bringing finances closer, he said the economic condition of the State can change only with the support of NABARD, banks and entrepreneurs.
Also informing that the government is working to bring out new land laws of the state, Kronu said it was time for the government to come closer with the entrepreneurs and farmers in order to think big, resolve all issues for better economic activities by being more practical.
On the occasion, Kronu also released the State Focus Paper 2022-23 of NABARD, Nagaland Regional Office, Dimapur.
Alleviating rural poverty, developing rural areas and promoting rural prosperity have been the hallmarks of NABARD over the years, said general manager Tiakala Ao while delivering the inaugural address.
State Focus Paper for Nagaland for 2022-23 presented a comprehensive picture of the potentials available for development of the various activities under agriculture and the rural sector, the availability of inputs including credit, infrastructure and other linkages for tapping the potential during the next financial year, she said.
On the occasion, NABARD Nagaland also gave away various awards of Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 6000 respectively to the first and second position winners:
Top performing SHG in the state
1st: Ayongben SHG under NSCB, Chumukedima Branch
2nd: Krovitho SHG under Nagaland Rural Bank, Purana Bazar Branch
Top performing JLG in the state
1st: Seyie JLG under NSCB, Chumukedima Branch
2nd: Krolie Krotho JLG under NSCB, Chumukedima Branch
Top Bank branch in saving/credit linkage of SHGs
1st: NSCB, Dimapur Main Branch
2nd: NSCB, Chumukedima Branch
Top bank Branch in Credit Linkage of JLGs
1st: NSCB, Dimapur Main Branch
2nd: NSCB, Kohima Main Branch