Nagaland CM pushes for strengthening agriculture, entrepreneurship among youth
Kohima, June 8
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Monday underscored the importance of strengthening agriculture and allied sectors, noting that nearly 70 per cent of the state's population depends on farming for its livelihood.
Inaugurating the Incubation Centre for Food Processing at the State Industrial Area in Toluvi, Dimapur, Rio said food processing and small-scale industries offer some of the most promising avenues for industrial growth and employment generation in Nagaland.
Highlighting the significance of the newly inaugurated facilities, the Chief Minister said such initiatives would encourage entrepreneurship, create jobs, and reduce the state's dependence on imported goods.
He observed that Nagaland remains largely a consumer state, relying heavily on products brought in from outside, but expressed confidence that food processing and incubation centres would help boost local production and value addition, paving the way for greater self-reliance.
Rio said the projects, implemented under the Government of India's Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme, are aimed at strengthening infrastructure and promoting economic development.
He noted that the facilities would support local entrepreneurs, create market linkages, and enable the processing of locally grown produce into market-ready products.
Emphasising the need for efficient management of the facilities, the Chief Minister called for maintaining quality standards, ensuring regular upkeep, and making optimal use of the infrastructure.
He also stressed the importance of reducing intermediaries' role so that farmers receive a larger share of the benefits.
Rio urged young people to take advantage of opportunities available through government initiatives, including the Chief Minister's Micro Finance Scheme.
Referring to the high unemployment rate among educated youth, he said low participation in job fairs highlighted the need for greater focus on skill development, vocational training, and entrepreneurship.
Calling for a change in mindset, he encouraged youth to look beyond government jobs and explore opportunities in self-employment, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and the private sector. He expressed confidence in the Naga youth's ability to compete successfully in an increasingly competitive global environment.
Despite financial constraints, the Chief Minister assured that similar food processing and incubation facilities would be established in other districts of the state. He reiterated the government's commitment to expanding such infrastructure to promote inclusive economic growth across Nagaland.
Rio also called upon all stakeholders to work together to harness the state's resources by combining traditional knowledge with youthful innovation. He urged citizens to contribute towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and the goal of building a developed India.
During the programme, the Chief Minister virtually inaugurated the Incubation Centre for Entrepreneurs and Infrastructure Development at the Industrial Growth Centre in Ganeshnagar, Chumoukedima, the Incubation Centre for Food Processing at Tuensang, and the Modern Aggregation Centre at Longnak in Mokokchung district. The projects were developed under the SASCI-V (2024-25) and PM Gati Shakti schemes.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally a CM thinking beyond just government jobs. Our youth need to understand that self-employment and MSMEs are the future. The mindset shift he mentioned is so important - we can't all be clerks and officers. Hope the infrastructure is maintained properly though, that's often the weak link. 🤔
Reducing intermediaries is key. Middlemen eat up most of the profit while farmers struggle. If this incubation centre helps farmers process and sell directly, it'll be a game changer for Nagaland's economy. Also good to see focus on local production to reduce imports.
As someone who studied agricultural economics, this is a smart approach. Combining traditional knowledge with modern processing is exactly what we need in the Northeast. But I hope the government also focuses on market linkages - producing is one thing, selling is another. The Viksit Bharat 2047 vision needs real implementation at state level.
This is the right direction. Nagaland's youth are talented but need platforms. The CM's micro finance scheme plus incubation centres can create a good ecosystem. Just worried about corruption in implementation - hope the money actually reaches those who need it. Otherwise good move! 👏
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