Reported by Bhadra Gogoi
Dimapur: The North Eastern Council (NEC) allocated Rs 515.04 crore to Nagaland during the 15th Finance Commission (FC) period under the Schemes of NEC (SoNEC) and NESIDS-Roads projects.
In its project report on Nagaland released on Thursday, the NEC said the state recorded one of the most dynamic project portfolios among all northeastern states during the period, with a strong focus on value-chain development and industry-led economic advancement.
Under SoNEC, Nagaland recorded significant developmental progress during the 15th FC cycle, with an expenditure of Rs 205.84 crore.
Major interventions included the development of sports and tourism infrastructure, educational institutions, cultural complexes, skill development centres, community infrastructure, and projects for backward and tribal communities.
Special emphasis was also laid on agriculture and allied sectors through the promotion of sericulture, beekeeping, horticulture, coffee, rubber, bamboo, handloom and handicrafts, livestock development, fisheries, and value-addition initiatives.
NEC-funded projects also covered the preservation and promotion of Naga cultural heritage through museums, heritage complexes, indigenous learning centres, cultural tourism infrastructure, and tribal artisan support facilities, while enhancing eco-tourism and adventure tourism opportunities across the state.
In addition, SoNEC interventions promoted environmental conservation, geospatial planning, mineral resource assessment, afforestation, post-harvest infrastructure, and market linkage initiatives, contributing to balanced regional development and improved public service infrastructure.
Under the NESIDS Roads programme during the 15th FC period, nine road projects worth Rs 309.20 crore have been implemented in Nagaland, of which five projects valued at Rs 231.79 crore have already been completed.
Among the recently completed projects is the upgradation of the road from Dikhu Bridge to Amguri in Mokokchung district, which has significantly improved connectivity to the cultural heartland of the Ao Naga community and enhanced regional mobility.
In 2025–26, the NEC sanctioned four major projects in Nagaland valued at over Rs 67.87 crore, aimed at strengthening commercial agriculture, industrial infrastructure, and livelihood generation.
Among the flagship initiatives is the Cluster-Based Coffee Value Chain Development project, the single largest state-specific project sanctioned in the Northeast during the year.
It is designed to promote coffee cultivation, processing, branding, and marketing by building upon Nagaland’s internationally recognised Arabica coffee heritage and creating sustainable livelihoods for farming communities.
Complementing this initiative, the NEC also sanctioned projects for post-harvest coffee processing facilities to modernise production systems and improve access to premium markets.
Another significant initiative includes an integrated development project in the backward Phomching Assembly constituency in Mon district, focusing on irrigation and water management to improve agricultural productivity and support livelihoods in one of the state’s remote regions.