A national stakeholders’ workshop on “Strengthening the Banana Ecosystem for Sustainable Development” was held on March 11 at Tiyi Hall, Wokha Town. Organized by ICAR-KVK Wokha in collaboration with ICAR-ATARI Umiam, the Nagaland government, NRCB Tamil Nadu, and Nagaland State Rural Livelihood Mission, the event aimed to enhance banana production, market access, and sustainability.
Boosting Banana Farming for Economic Growth
Advisor to the Chief Minister, Dr. Chumben Murry, highlighted Wokha’s ideal climate for banana cultivation and called for scientific research to improve yield and quality. He emphasized that strengthening the banana ecosystem would boost economic growth, expand exports, and create jobs.
Dr. Murry also stressed the need to move away from traditional jhum cultivation towards sustainable farming. He expressed optimism that the One District, One Product (ODOP) initiative would promote banana farming and reduce environmental impact.
Market Access & Sustainable Practices
Wokha Deputy Commissioner Vineet Kumar stated that Wokha is Nagaland’s largest banana-producing district, with an annual yield of 11,000 metric tons. He underscored the need for scientific support and market linkages to improve farmers’ earnings. Experts from the National Research Centre for Banana (NCRB) will conduct field visits to assess and guide farming practices.
Preserving Wokha’s Unique Banana Varieties
Divisional Forest Officer Suman Sivachar praised the initiative, suggesting that Wokha bananas should be documented and preserved for their biodiversity value. He proposed applying for a Geographical Indication (GI) tag to boost their market recognition.
Sivachar also addressed the human-elephant conflict, noting that 89 villages in Wokha have reported elephant presence. Under an Indo-German biodiversity project, the Wildlife Institute of India will conduct a two-year study to develop a conflict resolution plan.
Technological Support & Future Plans
Experts from ICAR and the Directorate of Horticulture, Kohima, highlighted Wokha’s suitability for diverse crops and ongoing efforts to promote horticulture. Meriyan village has been designated a horticulture model village to boost cultivation.
The workshop featured keynote speeches from ICAR-NRCB Director Dr. R. Selvarajan and ICAR-ATARI Director Dr. A.K. Mohanty, with closing remarks by ETF Project Manager Anuranjan Singh. The event emphasized technology adoption, market expansion, and sustainable agricultural practices to strengthen banana farming in Wokha and beyond.
