Traditional and Sustainable Farming in North Eastern Region

Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has launched a Central Sector Scheme named “Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region” (MOVCDNER) for implementation in the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura during 2015-16 to 2017-18. The scheme aims at development of certified organic production in a value chain mode to link growers with consumers and to support the development of entire value chain starting from inputs, seeds, certification and creation of facilities for collection, aggregation, processing, marketing and brand building initiative. The scheme was approved with an outlay of Rs.400 crore for three years.

The assistance is provided for cluster development, on/off farm input production, supply of seeds/planting materials, setting up of functional infrastructure, establishment of integrated processing unit, refrigerated transportation, pre-cooling/ cold stores chamber, branding, labelling and packaging, hiring of space, hand holdings, organic certification through third party, mobilization of farmers/processors etc.

National Bamboo Mission (NBM) is focused on development of Bamboo inter alia in the North Eastern States, which has nearly 60% of the country’s Bamboo growing stock. With an outlay of Rs.1,290 crore, the NBM aims at holistic development of the Bamboo sector (including in NER) by incentivizing construction industry to give impetus to the use of Bamboo in construction. It seeks to mandate eco-friendly Government constructions through use of Bamboo and Bamboo products to give a fillip to this eco-friendly industry. The CPWD has already included Bamboo items in Delhi Schedule of Rates, 2016 and Ministry of Tourism has issued advisories to adopt ‘BIS Certified & Energy Efficient’ Bamboo Mat based products/ construction works in all the hilly areas and sloped roof. 

The State-wise release of funds under MOVCDNER for 2018-19 is given as below:

(Rs. in lakh)

Against the target of 50,000 hectare (ha.) area, 45918 ha. has been brought under the Organic Farming. Against the target of 100 Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs), 97 FPCs has been achieved.  Against the target of 2,500 Farmer Interest Groups (FIGs), 2,469 FIGs has been formed and 48948 farmers have been mobilized. The financial releases year-wise are: Rs.112.11crore (2015-16),   Rs.47.63 crore (2016-17) and Rs.66.22 crore (2017-18). 

Under the NBM, 50% subsidy for establishment of Bamboo treatment and seasoning plants while 50% (plus 10% for NE States) subsidy would be provided for establishment of processing units for value addition of Bamboo. 

This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.