Nagaland farmers abandoning fields due to low profits — Advisor Yanthan

DIMAPUR — Nagaland Advisor for Agriculture, Mhathung Yanthan said on Wednesday that farming in the state is facing a crisis as many abandon the profession due to low profitability.

Speaking at a coordination meeting of the agriculture department, agricultural university, and research institutes, Yanthan stressed the urgency of attracting people back to farming.

“Many people are turning away from the farming profession because farming does not pay anymore. We need to work on bringing people back into farming, which is the biggest challenge,” he said.

The meeting, held at the Angh House in Agri Expo, focused on uniting government agencies, researchers, and academics to find solutions for the challenges in the state’s agriculture sector.

The advisor highlighted the need to adapt to changing market dynamics and ensure that produce reaches the main market. “Unless our production is in the market, there will be no farmers, and farmers will stop taking up farming profession”, he said.

With over 70% of the state’s population engaged in agriculture, Yanthan emphasised the importance of the sector to the state’s future. However, he acknowledged the complexities of modern agriculture, including climate change and global warming, which pose significant challenges.

In this context, he urged for collaborations and knowledge sharing among the various agricultural research institutes and organizations, underscoring that it is their responsibility to find ways of mitigating these challenges.

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He lamented the tendency of institutions to keep findings to themselves instead of disseminating knowledge to benefit farmers.

Wezope Kenye, Agricultural Production Commissioner of Nagaland, said that the meeting was aimed at developing practical steps to improve the welfare of the farming community. He also emphasised the importance of teamwork and resource sharing among departmental officers, allied departments, and farmers.

The meeting on Wednesday followed the state-level annual review meeting of the agriculture department held on September 3, during which advisor Yanthan urged field officers to be innovative and embrace change to better serve farmers.