Dimapur: The Spices Board India on Wednesday organised a state-level seminar and market linkage programme in Dimapur to promote spice cultivation and improve market access for farmers in the northeastern region.
Speaking as the special guest, Additional Secretary, Horticulture, Razouvollie Dozo said market linkages in Nagaland remain weak and largely unstructured across several agricultural sectors, including spices, cereals, fruits and vegetables, despite years of discussion and planning.
He said Nagaland has favourable soil, suitable climatic conditions and hardworking farmers, but the key challenge lies not in production alone, rather in creating sustainable and reliable market systems.
Dozo observed that the prevalence of small landholdings often results in low-volume production, making it difficult for farmers to meet larger market demands.
He also underlined the need to focus on quality control, export standards and proper post-harvest handling practices to improve the competitiveness of local produce.
According to him, these challenges cannot be addressed by farmers alone and require coordinated efforts involving government departments, entrepreneurs, buyers and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs).
Deputy Director of Agriculture Cressida Jamir also highlighted the difficulties in establishing robust market linkages for farmers in the State, saying that a structured market system continues to remain elusive.
Rituraj Hazarika, Chief General Manager of M Junction, spoke on strategies for spice marketing in the Northeast and highlighted the role of digital platforms in improving market access.
He said M Junction’s strategy focuses on digital empowerment through e-auctions and direct market linkages, aimed at connecting farmers directly with national buyers.
By partnering with the Spices Board, he said, the initiative seeks to ensure transparent pricing, reduce dependence on middlemen and improve farmers’ incomes.
The technical session featured presentations on turmeric production and market insights, the prospects and challenges of Naga king chilli, and the market potential of ginger products.
Experts from the Spices Board shared technical and market-related inputs to help farmers and stakeholders improve production practices and tap better marketing opportunities.
The programme was aimed at promoting high-value spices such as large cardamom and the GI-tagged Naga king chilli (Bhut Jolokia), while also facilitating direct trade linkages between farmers and buyers from across the country.