Nagaland: The central team has proposed developing Peren as a betel nut hub

Dimapur: A central team conducted a feasibility study on areca nut cultivation in Ngwalwa village of Peren district in Nagaland on Tuesday, officials said on Wednesday.
The team was led by Baboolal Meena, Deputy Director, Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development (DASD), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Calicut, Kerala, along with Dr. A.K. Sit, Senior Scientist, CPCRI, West Bengal, and Leichombam S. Singh, Scientist, CPCRI, Guwahati.
The Mon District Planning and Development Board had earlier declared Ngwalwa as an areca nut village.
The team also visited Heningkunglwa village in the district.
Following the field visit, a stakeholders’ meeting was held at the Ngwalwa Village Council Hall, chaired by Sijin Rentta, Additional Assistant Commissioner of Ngwalwa.
The meeting was attended by government officials, village leaders, and local stakeholders.
During the meeting, the central team informed the participants that they would recommend to the ministry the introduction of the latest production techniques, establishment of nurseries for good quality saplings, development of necessary infrastructure, and creation of marketing linkages with South India.
The team also proposed developing the Ngwalwa area, including Heningkunglwa, Ngwalwa, Gaili Namdi, Gaili, and Punglwa villages, as an areca nut hub.
Furthermore, intercropping of spices such as black pepper and cocoa with areca nut was suggested to enhance farmers’ income and promote sustainable farming practices.