The Nagaland government has conceptualized a plan to provide hand-holding to the farmers and entrepreneurs of the state to come forward to produce more and sell their products under the brand name ‘Naturally Nagaland’.

Inaugurating an outlet of ‘Naturally Nagaland’ in Kohima on Monday, agriculture production commissioner Y Kikheto Sema emphasized the importance of agri and allied products for the promotion of farmers and entrepreneurs.

Sema said the products of ‘Naturally Nagaland’ are all organic and naturally grown in the state.

He added that all SHGs, farmers and entrepreneurs may have their own name which can be promoted and sold under ‘Naturally Nagaland’.

The first outlet of ‘Naturally Nagaland’ was launched in Dimapur on July 9.

Sema expressed his happiness to see all agri and allied departments, Nagaland State Rural Livelihood Mission, department of underdeveloped areas, handloom and handicrafts and missions like honey, bioresource, etc. are well coordinating and encouraging farmers, SHGs and entrepreneurs to come forward and showcase their products under ‘Naturally Nagaland’.

“This will go a long way to increase production and will be able to create employment for the young entrepreneurs,” he added.

Sema stated that the state government wanted that the ‘Naturally Nagaland’ products to go out of the state to places like Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Shillong, Bangalore, etc. so that the children of the state who are studying there feel at home by getting their own products and also to reach out to the other people.

He lauded the horticulture department and the Nagaland State Agricultural Marketing Board for sending the products outside the state despite the pandemic.

Additional director, department of underdeveloped areas, Dr. Anungla Imdong Phom said ‘Naturally Nagaland’ is a window to present the agri and allied, handicraft and handloom products of Nagaland by being mindful of the quality control and value addition of all finished and processed products in order to meet the prescribed benchmark and quality of each product that goes out in the market in the state and outside.

She said the nutrition value of each product is made to help consumers identify the nutrition content along with FSSAI registration of products.

Packaging of the products has been made to ensure to mention the origin of every product that sells under Naturally Nagaland, Phom added.

Bhadra Gogoi is Northeast Now Correspondent in Nagaland. He can be reached at: bhadragogoi@yahoo.com