Khonoma: Nagaland’s first Garlic Festival stressed the urgent need for agricultural processing and market strategies to ensure profitability for farmers.
Minister for Rural Development Metsübo Jamir, addressing the event on Thursday, stressed the importance of value addition and market timing to maximise returns.
Addressing the gathering, he said that garlic is harvested globally around this time, causing prices to drop. However, if the produce is processed, preserved, and sold, it can be sold at a higher rate which will benefit the farmers.
Jamir emphasised that without proper processing, agricultural produce often fails to generate sustainable profits. He added that processing has become crucial.
Drawing from his experience in tea production, the minister explained that he sells his tea products only when market values peak. He urged garlic farmers to adopt a similar approach, preserving their produce to capitalize on favorable market conditions.
Jamir also advocated for organic alder-based farming, suggesting that integrating multiple crops alongside alder cultivation would maximise land use while preserving natural forests. He lauded Khonoma for upholding traditional agricultural practices, noting that such methods were fading in other parts of the state.
Praising the efforts of the village’s self-help groups (SHGs), he cautioned that smaller SHGs risked becoming economically unviable. “
Turning to the state’s growing competition for government jobs, Jamir urged youth to explore entrepreneurship and skill development. He revealed that for 74 government posts, 80,000 applications were initially received, with only 2,000 candidates advancing to the examination stage.
The minister announced that the Rural Development Department would invest in convergence projects focused on agriculture. He assured that a small processing unit for garlic paste, powder, and oil would soon be set up in the village. Encouraging farmers to adopt a business mindset, he warned against underselling their produce.
The festival, celebrating garlic farming and the village’s agricultural achievements, featured several dignitaries. The event was chaired by Vibizono Chase, with an invocation by Rev. Tsolie Chase. Khonoma Women’s Union (KWU) president Sieno Sakhrie delivered the keynote address, while short speeches were presented by Commissioner & Secretary for Women Resource Development Zhothisa Dawhuo and directors from the Horticulture and Agriculture departments. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks from Nagaland State Commission for Women (NSCW) member Kekhrienuo Mor.
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