Nagaland state has good potential in kiwi production because of its altitude, adaptability, and high yield potential, said Deputy Director Horticulture (DDH), Directorate of Horticulture Meyasashi.
He addressed the audience and kiwifarmers from Kohima during the hand-holding training for kiwi fruit under Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCD-NER), a central sector under the Government of India’s Organic Scheme for Kohima District at Jotsoma Village.
Narendra Singh Tomar said last year Nagaland needs to become the Kiwi state of India during a public address, and DHH is also making efforts to expand capacity training programs and expand kiwi farms, as well as introducing area expansion programmes and strategies for marketing kiwis.
As Nagaland has also instituted a Kiwi producers company called CHANSU, which promotes the kiwi brand of the state internationally, Meyasashi revealed that exporters from the largest kiwi producing countries, including New Zealand, are interested in importing the kiwis in their offseason. In this regard, he added that an expansion of production with a target of 10000 hectares is underway and expressed optimism regarding the same.
With the introduction of kiwi cultivation in Nagaland, the state is now the 2nd largest producer and 2nd largest in area coverage. Phek, Zunheboto, and Kohima districts in the state produce the highest amount of kiwi fruit, while other districts are also beginning to grow it. In Kohima, 563 metric tons are expected to be produced on 59 hectares.
