The Entrepreneurs Associates and NERAMAC Join Hands to Empower Farmers through Geographical Indication Awareness & User Authorisation

The Entrepreneurs Associates (tEA), in collaboration with the North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation (NERAMAC), and the State Horticulture Department successfully organized a state-level workshop on Geographical Indication (GI) awareness and user authorization for farmers on 26^th November, 2024 at the Directorate of Horticulture Office in Kohima. The event saw a footfall of 80 farmers from Phek and Kohima districts, with entrepreneurs and experts from the region coming in to educate and empower the farmers about the benefits and procedures of obtaining GI tags for their unique local products, with special focus on Tree tomato and sweet cucumber. The workshop aimed to promote rural development and economic growth by highlighting the importance of GI tagging in enhancing the market value and competitiveness of local products.  

The workshop was chaired by Chitsiarho Po, tEA Programs Manager who gave the welcome address and felicitated the officials, which was followed by a brief description of the event by Mr. Hirak Jyoti Baishya. Deputy Manager – Marketing, NERAMAC. He shared, “NERAMAC has identified tree tomato and sweet cucumber for GI. We want these niche products to be taken up by farmers and add value to it by encouraging entrepreneurs to bring out innovative products through it. Through GI, we want to protect regional produce while giving them a global space.”

The first session of the workshop kicked off with Special Guest Sanuzo Neinu, Additional Director of Agriculture, who spoke on ‘Post Harvest Management and the Scope of Value Addition to Naga Tree Tomato and Sweet Cucumber.’ He explained the significance of GI tag in detail and stressed that this feature will allow the farmers to take their produce beyond their kitchen and show it to the world. “In the past, lack of markets had limited the production of tree tomatoes and sweet cucumbers, but now we are seeing markets and we need to upscale our production,” he shared to the farmers.

Guest of Honour Meyashashi, State Director of Horticulture also gave an overview of GI and its benefits for the farmers. He explained, “Geographical Identification is a tag or a number given to a product grown in a particular region or village, to identify the origination of the product.” He also shared the unique feature of tree tomatoes and sweet cucumbers and its multiple benefits.  

GI registration process with hands on guidance was taken up by Hirak Jyoti. He shared the definition and benefits of GI, along with examples of various GI products from different regions. He also explained the GI registration process to the farmers, making it convenient for them.   

The workshop included another session titled ‘Role of CBBO and FPCs in GI Promotion and Implementation’ which was conducted by Imtisenla Longkumer Mero, tEA Project Co-ordinator. “We need to learn, unlearn and keep updating ourselves in order to be progressive, in whatever field we may be,” she stated. She stressed upon the multiple works carried out by tEA which works for the economic empowerment of farmers, and also provided a detailed explanation on the positive impact of GI products, the importance of value addition foods and the marketing process of local produce.

The program concluded with an interactive session and handing over of the GI registration forms by tEA and state agricultural officers to NERAMAC. In the vote of thanks, Chitsiarho Po praised NERAMAC for its deep commitment to empowering farmers and also appreciated the farmers for coming all the way and making the program a successful and meaningful one with their presence.