Nagaland Minister for Tourism and Higher Education, Temjen Imna Along, together with Advisor for Science & Technology Küzholüzo (Azo) Nienu, on Wednesday met Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Minister of State for PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, to talk about a complete roadmap for increasing lavender-based agri-entrepreneurship and strengthening the science and innovation ecosystem within the state.
The assembly targeted on leveraging Nagaland’s wealthy biodiversity, pure assets and educational establishments by way of focused scientific interventions to generate sustainable livelihoods, enhance farmers’ incomes, promote rural entrepreneurship and speed up technology-driven growth.
A key agenda of the discussions was the growth of lavender cultivation and different high-value fragrant crops beneath the profitable CSIR Aroma Mission. The initiative follows Nagaland’s adoption of the Purple Revolution mannequin in 2022, when a startup group started lavender cultivation in Zunheboto district after drawing inspiration from the programme’s success in Bhaderwah, Jammu & Kashmir.
Appreciating the pilot initiative in Nagaland, Dr Jitendra Singh mentioned scientifically guided interventions suited to the state’s agro-climatic circumstances may remodel fragrant crop cultivation right into a sustainable livelihood mannequin. He noticed that the expertise gained from the pilot mission may function the muse for increasing comparable farmer-centric initiatives to different appropriate districts, creating increased incomes, rural enterprises and value-added alternatives.
Referring to the success of the CSIR Aroma Mission in Jammu & Kashmir, the Union Minister mentioned the initiative had demonstrated how science may drive socio-economic transformation by producing employment and enhancing the incomes of farming communities.
To facilitate wider adoption of the mannequin, Dr Singh proposed an publicity go to for scientists, technical specialists and senior officers from Nagaland to Jammu & Kashmir. He mentioned the go to would allow them to examine the profitable implementation of lavender cultivation, work together with scientific establishments and progressive farmers, and determine greatest practices that could possibly be tailored to Nagaland’s native circumstances.
He additionally beneficial a scientific evaluation of appropriate areas throughout the state for increasing lavender and different fragrant crops by way of a region-specific strategy.
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Stressing the significance of long-term sustainability, Dr Singh mentioned high quality planting materials, scientific handholding, know-how support, talent growth and market linkages could be important for scaling up fragrant crop cultivation and making certain lasting advantages for farmers and rural youth.
Besides agriculture, the assembly additionally explored extending flagship schemes of the Department of Science & Technology (DST) to strengthen Nagaland’s science and innovation ecosystem, notably by way of universities, faculties and analysis establishments, together with the state’s Central University.
Dr Singh urged that senior DST officers maintain detailed consultations with the Nagaland Government and educational establishments to determine precedence areas for collaboration, assess the feasibility of building scientific infrastructure and technology-enabled services, and put together an implementation roadmap aligned with the state’s developmental priorities.
He additional inspired nearer collaboration between the Government of Nagaland and premier scientific establishments beneath the Department of Science & Technology and the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) to promote innovation-driven analysis, know-how switch and capacity-building amongst younger scientists, startups and entrepreneurs.
Stronger partnerships between universities, analysis establishments, trade and authorities, he mentioned, would assist construct a vibrant innovation ecosystem able to addressing region-specific developmental challenges.
The discussions additionally lined alternatives for collaboration in biotechnology, agri-technologies, bio-resource utilisation and different rising sectors the place Nagaland possesses important pure benefits. Dr. Singh mentioned science and know-how may play a transformative position in unlocking the financial potential of the Northeast by growing domestically related, sustainable and scalable options that instantly enhance the lives of farmers, rural communities and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Temjen Imna Along appreciated the Centre’s continued support in strengthening the science and know-how ecosystem within the Northeast and reaffirmed the Nagaland Government’s dedication to working carefully with the Ministry in advancing collaborative initiatives throughout precedence sectors.
Advisor Küzholüzo (Azo) Nienu additionally shared the state’s imaginative and prescient of increasing scientific analysis, selling innovation and creating new alternatives for technology-led growth in Nagaland.
The assembly concluded with each side reaffirming their dedication to deepening Centre-State collaboration to translate scientific analysis into sensible developmental outcomes by way of farmer-centric applied sciences, stronger analysis partnerships, enhanced institutional capability and sustainable livelihood alternatives throughout Nagaland.