Kohima: Nagaland Governor P B Acharya, terning horticulture as one of the main agricultural practices among nations, has said it being promoted by the states and the Centre in order to make it a commercial activity to meet growing demands.
Speaking as chief guest, at the valedictory function of the three-day national seminar titled ‘Sustainable Horticulture vis-à-vis Changing Environment’ in Dimapur district yesterday, Mr Acharya said horticulture has become the best option for diversification to meet the need for food, nutrition, health care and also provide better opportunity for employment.
He pointed out that India was the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world after China. The increasing demands for horticultural produce were due to greater health awareness, rising income and export demands.
The Governor said that depending on the farm location, climate change could also affect the horticulture industry. In this, he said the issue of climate change and climate variability had thrown up greater uncertainties and risk which imposes constraints on horticulture production systems.
Acharya also said horticulture was being encouraged with a view to providing complementary area for small and marginal farmers and weaker sections of society to augment their income.
The most significant change in the last two decades was that horticulture crop production has begun to move from rural confines to commercial ventures and has attracted young entrepreneurs as it proved to be intellectually satisfying and economically rewarding, said the Governor. (UNI)
He also called for use of knowledge to change mindsets and bring about changes in the system in Nagaland. He also cautioned against poverty in Nagaland despite hundreds of schools, colleges and universities.
Acharya said by 2020, 64 per cent of the population in India would consist of young people and so the 21st century belonged to the young entrepreneurs involved in agricultural fields. He expressed the hope that the seminar would be the platform to bring opportunity for developing sustainable horticulture in the context of the changing environment.
The Governor said majority of people in the North East were dependent on agriculture, horticulture and allied land-based activities and the region offered tremendous scope for exploiting the export potential for horticultural products.
With the integration of Indian economy with the global markets, the potential of horticulture exports from the region could provide a huge competitive advantage in international trade in the coming years, he said. UNI AS RD JRD
