INVESTIBLE PROJECTS IN AGRICULTURE SECTOR

Agriculture in Mizoram

The Agriculture sector is important for food security, employment generation and economic growth. Modern agriculture is knowledge-based, in which education at all levels; particularly higher education has an important role. New technologies are needed to break yield barriers, utilize inputs more efficiently and diversified to more sustainable and higher value cropping patterns. Mizoram is a highly literate agrarian economy with a total geographical area of 21,087 Sq. Km. equivalent to 21.08 Lakh Ha. Slash-and-burn jhum, or shifting cultivation, is the most common form of farming in Mizoram although it gives poor crop yields when compared with WRC areas. Mizoram comes under the Eastern Himalayan Agro-Climatic Zone along with other states like Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and West Bengal. The climate of Mizoram offers an excellent scope for cultivation of various agriculture crops which can be grown successfully even under rain fed conditions.

Rice is the staple food of the people of Mizoram and is cultivated in low-lying areas (WRC-I) under irrigated as well as in hilly areas (Jhum area) under rainfed condition. Among all the Agricultural crops cultivated in the State, Rice occupied maximum area with 34907 Ha followed by Maize ( 6645 Ha ), Pulses ( 4040 Ha ), Oilseeds ( 3024 Ha) and other commercial crops such as Sugarcane etc.

Organic Farming, Scope and Prospects in Mizoram

Realizing the potential of organic farming in the North Eastern Region, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare has launched a Central Sector Scheme entitled “Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region” for implementation in the North Eastern States during 2015. In Mizoram, the Scheme was introduced during 2016-17 and Agriculture Department is the Nodal DEpartment for this Scheme. 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, to the creation of facilities for collection, aggregation, processing marketing and brand building initiative. 

The Scheme is implemented in a Phase manner covering the entire Districts of the State. Under this Scheme, Potential crops/commodities having Domestic as well as International markets are identified and prioritized for large scale cultivation.

The Scheme is implemented in a phase Manner with the potential crops having potential domestic/ International Markets and implementation of Phase I and II is already completed. Whereas Phase – III is in the final stage ( 3rd year of Implementation), phase – IV will be commenced from 2023-24 onwards. With the implementation of this Scheme, many Farmer Producer Organizations/ Companies had been formed in various Districts and collective Farming spirit is being promoted among the Farmers groups. The status of formation of Farmers Producer Organization/ Company along with the area under Organic Certification and the expected quantity of Organic commodities are given in the following table.

Setting up of Oilpalm Mill at Bukvannei, Kolasib District by Godrej Agrovet Ltd during 2012:

With a view to reduce the import of Crude Oilpalm from other countries and to become self reliant in Edible Oil production, the Central Government through the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare have been promoting Oil Palm cultivation to various States under CSS Schemes. In Mizoram, Oil Palm cultivation was introduced around 2004 where Oilpalm seedlings were planted in some selected areas having diverse agroecological zones of the Districts to evaluate their performances. After seeing their performances through multilocational trials, Area expansion of Oilpalm was initiated during 2006 and Oilpalm sprouted seeds are imported from Foreign countries and are raised in the Nursery and

distributed to the Farmers.

The gestation period of a healthy growing Oilpalm tree is seven years beyond which regular harvest can be done for almost upto 30 years. With the support from the Government of India, Agriculture Department in collaboration with Godrej Agrovet Company Ltd have undertaken large scale Oilpalm cultivation by distributing Oilpalm Seedlings to the Farmers.

As the Palm Oil trees are approaching the regular Harvesting stages, the Department has given utmost efforts to established OilPalm Mill at Bukvannei, Kolasib District to facilitate the partner company in establishment of Oilpalm Mill for extraction of Crude Palm Oil from the Oilpalm Fresh Fruit Bunch (FFB) within Kolasib District to cater both Mamit and Kolasib District Oilpalm production. During 2012, Oil Palm Mill established by Godrej Agrovet Company was commissioned and the Palm Mill with 5 MT per Ha capacity is now functional. This is the only Oil Palm Mill established in the Northeast India. The Sequence of Oil Palm Mill establishment - Land Acquisition, signing of Agreement with the Land Owner and the Company with the present status of Land Rent are as given below:

1. The total land area leased out to Godrej Agrovet Company Ltd. for establishment of Oil Palm Mill at Bukvannei, Kolasib is around 20 hectares.

2. The Land being used for Oilpalm Mill Establishment is owned by 5 people. 3. After obtaining necessary permission and clearance from the Revenue Department,

Government of Mizoram, Agreement was signed between the Land owners (5 peoples) and the Company and as per the Terms of Agreement, the Company will utilized the Land for period of 40 years.

4. Initially, as per the Agreement between the Company and the Land Owners, the Land Tax was fixed at Rs. 3.00 lakh for a period of 6 years and after six year from signing of Agreement, the land Tax will be increased by 6 %.

5. MoU was singed in the Presence of the Director of Agriculture, Government of Mizoram.

6. As per the Agreement, the Company will provide employment to 1 member of each Land Owners.

7. Land Settlement Certificate was issued to all the Land owners before signing of MoU between the Company and the Land owners.

Setting up of Oil Palm Mill at Southern Mizoram

Similarly, to facilitate the crude Oil Palm extraction from FFB collected from the Oil Palm Farmers of Lawngtlai, Lunglei and Saiha District, Patanjali Foods have identify suitable Land for establishment of Oil Palm Mill recently. The location of the identified area is Liapha , Lawngtlai District. MoU has been signed between the Company and the Land owner and the construction work is expected to commence soon.