Nagaland governor P B Acharya at governor’s outreach programme for farmers of Kohima district at Raj Bhavan, Kohima on Saturday. Photo: Northeast Now

Nagaland governor P B Acharya underlined the need for creating cooperative movement in the state to help the farmers in marketing their produce.

“Producer-customer link is missing,” Acharya pointed out while addressing the governor’s outreach programme for farmers of Kohima district at Raj Bhavan, Kohima on Saturday, a Raj Bhavan release said on Sunday.

The governor said the north eastern states in general and Nagaland in particular are blessed with favourable climatic conditions for vegetable cultivation.

According to him, the organic produce should be marketed in a systematic way to double the income of farmers. He also stressed the need to make a favourable policy to help the farmers.

The governor committed to donate Rs 2 lakh to the Kohima Farmer Producers Organisation to purchase a pick-up van for transportation of agro produce to the markets.

The farmers presented organic produce to Acharya during the programme.

Kohima Farmer Producers Organisation president Keghaselie K Kuoku said altogether 1,091 farmers registered with the organisation which is registered under Cooperative Societies Act in Nagaland.

He said exposure trips for the farmers to other states are sponsored by the department of horticulture and agriculture from time to time. Every year the organisation takes part in exhibition-cum-sales of agro produce during the festivals and important functions, Kuoku added.

He also highlighted the difficulties faced by the Kohima district farmers especially in transportation and marketing of agricultural produce.

Kuoku thanked the governor for convening the Kohima district farmers meet at Raj Bhavan and hosting dinner for the farmers.

Agriculture director G Ikuto Zhimomi said many welfare projects are in the pipeline for the benefit of the farmers and also to double their income.