In a major boost to horticulture in the North-East, the Nagaland Government has partnered with New Zealand to establish India’s first Centre of Excellence (CoE) for kiwifruit cultivation in Pfütsero town.
According to The Tribune, the initiative is aimed at strengthening scientific research, technology transfer, and farmer capacity building while helping Nagaland reinforce its position as a leading kiwifruit-producing state in the country.
As reported by The Tribune, Nagaland Minister for Water Resources and Horticulture Salhoutuonuo Kruse recently held discussions with an 11-member delegation from New Zealand and New Delhi regarding the proposed project.
The meeting was also attended by Commissioner and Secretary for Horticulture Akumla Chuba along with senior officials from the department.
The delegation from New Zealand included six scientists and technical experts from the country’s Bioeconomy Science Institute (BSI): Stephanie Clare Montgomery, Daniel Colin Black, Nicholas Gould, Jeremy Nicholas Burdon, Joy Lorraine Tyson, and Steven Robert Green.
Representatives from the New Zealand Embassy in New Delhi and officials from the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare were also present during the visit, The Tribune reported.
According to The Tribune, the proposed Centre of Excellence is expected to play a significant role in advancing Nagaland’s kiwi sector through scientific research, technology transfer, and skill development initiatives.
The project aligns with the state government’s broader vision of positioning Nagaland as the “Kiwi State of India” while enhancing livelihood opportunities for farmers through modern, science-based horticultural practices.
The collaboration is also expected to promote scientific farming methods, strengthen support systems for local growers, and deepen agricultural cooperation between India and New Zealand. Officials believe the initiative could serve as a model for sustainable horticultural development in the region.
One of the major objectives of the delegation’s visit was the installation of a weather monitoring station at the proposed CoE site in Pfütsero. As highlighted by The Tribune, the station will be the first facility of its kind to be established by Nagaland’s Horticulture Department.
The weather monitoring facility will generate real-time data on weather patterns, soil conditions, and water parameters. This information is expected to support precision farming practices and improve cultivation management, enabling growers to make more informed decisions regarding crop production and resource utilisation.
Kruse also highlighted the possibility of future exchange programmes that could allow Nagaland’s growers to visit New Zealand for training and exposure to advanced kiwifruit cultivation practices. Such initiatives are expected to help local farmers adopt global best practices and improve productivity.
As noted by The Tribune, India’s North-Eastern region possesses immense potential for cultivating a variety of commercially viable fruit crops. However, farmers in the region often face challenges arising from limited financial resources and lower levels of technological awareness compared with many other parts of the country.
Nagaland is currently regarded as India’s second-largest producer of kiwifruit. Production is concentrated primarily in Phek district, followed by Zunheboto and Kohima districts, while cultivation activities are gradually expanding to several other districts across the state.
Despite the sector’s growth potential, farmers continue to face difficulties related to marketing, storage infrastructure, post-harvest losses, pests, and diseases. Experts believe that improvements in farming technology, research support, and storage facilities could unlock substantial opportunities for value addition, entrepreneurship, and employment generation.
According to The Tribune, such developments could provide a significant boost to Nagaland’s economy while improving the livelihoods of thousands of farmers engaged in kiwifruit cultivation.
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