Agriculture

INTRODUCTION

The State department of Agriculture was established as a full fledged department in the year 1963 headed by Director with the declaration of Nagaland as the 16th state under the Indian Union. The department has attended and celebrated its 50 years on 4th Dec 2013 in Kohima, Nagaland. The genesis of the State department of Agriculture being old as the statehood has its root back in 1910 to early 1920, where the British Raj Agriculture as part of developmental activities and administration started with few nucleus staff called as Agriculture Demonstrator and “Kheti Babus”. During 1952-62 two District officers functioned under the direct control of Secretary Development in the nascent Secretariat as DAO Kohima and DAO Tuensang. The progeny of the Department of Agriculture are the Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary (Erswhile Deptt of VS&AH), CO-operation, Fishery, Soil and Water Conservation, Irrigation & Flood Control, Horticulture and Land Resources (Erswhile Waste Land Deptt.).
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, NAGALAND, KOHIMA
Nagaland is a hilly State with mountainous terrain richly endowed with natural resources. Predominantly an agrarian State with 70 % of its population engaged and dependent on Agriculture. Traditional Jhum/shifting cultivation is popular in the State due to topographical terrain. Mixed cropping pattern is practiced incorporating cereals, pulses, oilseeds, tuber crops, condiments and spices using local cultivars which are organic in nature. The larger area under WTRC/TRC falls in the foothills of the State.
During the 12th Five Year Plan GOI has launched various National Flagship Programmes emphasizing convergence of activities for sustainability in Agriculture Development. Intervention of CSS programmes like NFSM, ATMA, RKVY, NMOOP, NMAET,NMSA, NEC, EARAS and PMKSY has contributed enormously in the field of Agriculture development. The department has carried forward these programmes in line with the GOI guidelines benefitting the farming community at large.
The department target to achieve food security by ’2025’ A.D. Natural resources based sustainable Agriculture is decreasing due to decline in eco-system and man-made activities. Therefore, efficiency is mediated for improvement in production and productivity to achieve food security.

OUR MISSION / POLICY STATEMENT:

Our Vision:

1. A feasible and economically viable Agriculture in Nagaland by 2025 A.D.

Our Mission:

1. Increase subsistence Agriculture to commercial agriculture in a sustainable manner by extending demand driven services to farmers
2. Promote Organic Agriculture in the hilly terrains
3. Pioneering the State in Rainfed Farming System

Our Goals:

1. Increase crop production and productivity
2. Empower and uplift the living standard of farming community
3. Promote farm mechanization wherever feasible
4. Achieve Food Security by 2025A.D.
5. Empowerment of small and marginal farmers considering gender equality
6. Mechanize hill Agriculture
7. Resilient Agriculture