Central Institute of Horticulture

INAUGURATION OF FARMERS’ HOSTEL

&

BEEKEEPERS’ SUMMIT CUM HORTI EXPO

11^th November 2021

SUMMARY

Considering the rich diversity of flora and fauna in Nagaland which is a catalyst for developing of beekeeping sector in the region, a Beekeepers’ summit cum Horti Expo was organised by Central Institute of Horticulture, Medziphema along with inauguration of Farmers’ hostel on 11th November, 2021 in continuation of the various programmes for celebration of 75th Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. The programme was held in hybrid mode-both physical & virtually.

The programme was inaugurated by Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare virtually in the presence of Shri Kailash Choudary, Hon’ble Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Sushri. Shobha Karandlaje, Hon’ble Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Shri Sanjay Agarwal, Secretary, DA& FW, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, New Delhi, Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Addl. Secretary, DA& FW and Dr. S.K.Malhotra, Agriculture & Horticulture Commissioner, DA& FW.

Dr. N K Patle, Addl. Commissioner (Hort.) & Managing Director, National Bee Board, DA& FW, Shri T Mhabemo Yanthan IAS, Comm. & Secy. to Governor & Team Leader, Beekeeping & Honey Mission, Nagaland, Smt. Anenla T Sato IAS, Comm. & Secy. (Horti), Govt. of Nagaland, Dr. R. E Lotha, Director of Horticulture, GoN, Shri Shiv Anjan Dalmia, Member, Board of Management (BOM), CIH & MD, Fosse Holdings, Kolkata and Shri Diwakar Chachari, Member BOM , CIH were physically present during the programme at CIH, Nagaland.

Shri. Narendra Singh Tomar, Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare inaugurated the Farmers’ Hostel constructed with a cost of Rs.3.00 Cr having a capacity of 40 beds with facilities like meeting hall and accommodation for resource persons which will host the farmers of North East Region during various trainings and programmes at CIH. He expressed his immense happiness that small farmers from Nagaland and North East are coming up with very good marketable products through the technical support and programmes of CIH. He spoke on various schemes of Govt. of India for the farmers & beekeepers. He emphasised that through Honey Mission which is collaborating with NAFED for marketing of honey products will highly benefit the small and marginal farmers/beekeepers of Nagaland & Northeast. He expressed that the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers welfare is always ready to support small farmers and work hand in hand through various Govt. schemes, programmes and line departments under the Ministry like CIH. He requested the small and marginal farmers to come forward and avail the various services and benefits available for improving their farming activity thereby increasing their income and achieve sustainable development. Lastly he congratulated the staff of CIH, State Department and the farmers of Nagaland for working together and achieving greater heights in horticulture sector.

Dr. N K Patle, Addl. Commissioner (Hort.) & Managing Director, National Bee Board, DA& FW and Director Incharge CIH highlighted during the Bee Summit that presently, 232 beekeepers/beekeeping societies/firms etc and 4265 bee colonies have been registered with the National Bee Board from Nagaland and the state has produced 650 metric tonnes of honey in the year 2020-21. He emphasised that Nagaland and the North East Region have huge potential in the Beekeeping sector and shared that 2 districts of Nagaland i.e. Dimapur & Peren have been identified for formation of FPOs of Beekepers/Honey producers under the scheme ”Formation and Promotion of 10,000 new Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)” of Govt. of India. Further, he also highlighted that there was a huge domestic and international market for honey, bees wax, pollen, royal jelly etc, for which the beekeepers should work in groups for higher production and marketing aspect.

During the Technical programme of Beekeeper’s summit, Mr. Mhathung Tsopoe, Team member, NBHM gave a presentation of ”Pollination-Production & Productivity of Agriculture & Horticulture Crops by Bee-Pollinating Services” and Mr. Nzanbemo K Lotha, Team member, NBHM spoke on “Quality Control of Honey & Marketing Strategy”.

The Chief Guest Shri. Narendra Singh Tomar, Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare launched 07 different types of fermented fruit beverages and candy prepared from locally available underutilized fruits manufactured by Mr. NG.Baio, founder & owner of Hills Foods from Senapati, Manipur and Naga King Chilli Pickel prepared by Ms. Vuseno Yakhro, founder & owner of Dwellington Home, Kohima, Nagaland. Both the young entrepreneurs initiated the startup after undergoing 3 months Certificate Course on Post Harvest Management at CIH. Certificates were also distributed to 10 nos. of Accreditated Nurseries of North East Region and released various publications of CIH. Vegetable seed kits were also distributed to the farmers in commemoration of the International Year of Fruits & Vegetables 2021 under Aatma Nirbhar Krishi.

On the auspicious occasion, an MOU was signed between Molsang Organic Pineapple Producers Company Nagaland formed under MOVCD programme of the Govt. of India and Satsumi Farm LLP, New Delhi for marketing of Pineapple. Dr. Praveen Singh from Satsumi Farms LLP, New Delhi highlighted that only Nagaland produces the sweetest and juiciest pineapple in India.

20 nos. of Exhibition stalls were displayed by various departments/Exhibitors. All together more than 150 farmers attended the programme physically and around 100 officials’ and dignitaries from around the North East and the country attended the programme virtually.

Dr. S.K.Malhotra, Agriculture & Horticulture Commissioner, DA& FW thanked all the dignitaries, officials, farmers and participants for their valuable presence and for making the programme a grand success.