Photo Courtesy: nagalandpost
Kohima: Kezoma Village Ground hosted the second Millet Festival on August 26. The Kezoma Village Council organized the event alongside the Nagaland Department of Agriculture. Farmers gathered to showcase local produce across 20 stalls. They sold over 1,000 kilograms of millet harvested in July.
Agriculture Production Commissioner Dr. Zasekuolie Chusi praised the crop for its resilience. Millet handles heat, drought, and poor soil better than many alternatives. It matures fast and thrives on the state's hilly, marginal terrain. Chusi noted that millet improves income for farmers in the Kezo range. He stated that the revival of millet cultivation serves as a “reawakening” for the community.
The region remains ideal for agriculture due to steady rainfall and forests. Chusi urged government officials to coordinate on seeds, irrigation, and soil conservation to help farmers. He also pushed for integrating modern technology with traditional knowledge to build stronger rural economies. Many villages are shifting away from paddy as economic conditions change.
District Agriculture Officer Kekhrieletuo Yhome commended the local adoption of the System of Rice Intensification. Nearly 98 per cent of paddy fields in the area use this method. Farmers are also using new threshing and milling machines to cut down on labor. Mhasivi Naki chaired the event, while Kikrosa Naki welcomed the crowd and the Kezoma Village Women Society provided music.
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