Guwahati: Nagaland University on Wednesday signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with two Japanese agricultural firms to launch one-year internship programmes that will provide students with practical training in advanced farming practices and exposure to Japanese work culture.
The agreements were signed with Kumugai Farm Co., Ltd., Kaiyo Town, Tokushima Prefecture, and Hagumi Farm Co., Ltd., Aki City, Kochi Prefecture, during the Nagaland–Japan Connect Memorandum of Understanding Signing and Exchange Ceremony at the School of Agricultural Sciences (SAS), Medziphema Campus, Nagaland University.
The ceremony was attended by university officials, faculty members, representatives of the Government of Nagaland and delegates from Japan. The programme was chaired by J. Longkumer, Nodal Officer, Internship Programme Japan–Nagaland University.
Welcoming the gathering, Pauline Alila, Dean of the School of Agricultural Sciences, said the MoUs marked the beginning of a long-term partnership based on a shared vision, mutual trust and a commitment to advancing agricultural education through international collaboration.
“This collaboration reflects our common aspiration for innovation and knowledge exchange. We are confident that it will create new opportunities for technology transfer, skill development and cultural understanding, benefiting both our communities. By joining hands with our Japanese partners, we hope to harness our respective strengths to create meaningful opportunities for our students and foster long-term prosperity,” she said.
Representatives of the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), Limanungla Longkumer, Takeo Kumagai, Representative Director of Kumugai Farm Co., Ltd., Tokushima Prefecture, and Yamamoto Seiya, Representative Director of Hagumi Farm Co., Ltd., Kochi Prefecture, also addressed the gathering.
During the MoU signing and exchange ceremony, the speakers discussed the importance of India–Japan collaboration in agriculture, knowledge sharing and skill development through structured internship programmes.
Takeo Kumagai described the agreement as the beginning of a long-term partnership extending beyond student internships.
“We see this partnership evolving well beyond internships. This MoU marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration that we believe will create greater employment opportunities for the youth of Nagaland while strengthening ties between Nagaland and Japan. We are optimistic that this partnership will expand into research collaboration, technology transfer, skill development and industry cooperation,” he said.
Yamamoto Seiya said the collaboration would combine Japanese agricultural expertise with Nagaland’s strengths to promote sustainable farming and skill development.
“One of the greatest strengths of Japanese agriculture is its emphasis on precision, sustainability and continuous innovation. This partnership is not about one side teaching the other, but about learning together. By combining Japan’s technological expertise with Nagaland’s resources and dedication, we hope to promote sustainable agricultural development, improve productivity, create opportunities for young people and strengthen long-term cooperation between our two regions,” he said.
In his concluding remarks, Dipak Sinha, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Medziphema Campus, described the partnership as an important step towards strengthening international collaboration and enhancing practical learning opportunities for students.
“The partnership is a significant step towards strengthening international collaboration and enhancing students’ practical learning opportunities. I hope this collaboration will expand in the future to include joint research initiatives. I also request our Japanese partners to explore online programmes that will expose our students to advanced agricultural technologies and farming practices in Japan,” he said.
Sinha also appreciated the Japanese partner farms, IDAN, the Government of Nagaland, faculty members and officials of the School of Agricultural Sciences, Nagaland University, for facilitating the agreements.
Under the MoUs, students of the Department of Vocational Studies and Skill Development, School of Agricultural Sciences, Nagaland University, will undergo 12-month internship programmes in Japan. The programme will provide practical training in modern agricultural practices while exposing students to Japanese work culture, technology and professional standards.
The internships will form part of the university’s practical training curriculum, with academic credits awarded in accordance with the regulations of Nagaland University and the respective Japanese institutions.
Nagaland University will oversee the academic component of the programme, including student selection, credit recognition and internship evaluation.
The partnerships are expected to strengthen the university’s international collaboration while providing students with practical experience in Japanese agricultural practices and exposure to global career opportunities.