ITANAGAR, 2 July 2025: Arunachal Pradesh’s Namsai district has launched an ambitious cocoa cultivation programme to diversify local agriculture and raise tribal farmer incomes. The initiative, spearheaded by the Department of Horticulture in partnership with NABARD and the NOSAAP Producer Company, targets selected farmers under the TRIBES/WADI Project framework.
At a sapling distribution and farmer training session held at ICAR-KVK, Momong, participants collected thousands of high-quality cocoa saplings, sourced from reputed nurseries and provided free of charge through state government untied funds. Officials described it as a model of grassroots convergence, bringing together state and national institutions to promote profitable, sustainable agriculture.
“This is a strategic move to help farmers adopt high-value crops and lift agri-economics in the district,” said Mardo Ninu, District Horticulture Officer, Namsai. Cocoa, he explained, has growing market demand and can be successfully intercropped with arecanut and other plantation crops to boost returns while promoting agroforestry.
Ms. Omi Tayeng, Horticulture Development Officer in Chongkham, led a technical workshop for farmers on cocoa’s cultivation methods, pest and disease management, and market opportunities. Dr. Utpal Baruah, Senior Scientist and Head of KVK Namsai, pledged continuing technical support throughout the planting and growing cycle, assuring farmers of advice on best practices and disease control.
Representing NABARD, Kamal Roy, Assistant General Manager for District Development, highlighted the broader role of the TRIBES/WADI project in creating economically viable alternatives and strengthening rural livelihoods. He also noted that local cocoa processing initiatives might follow, improving value addition. “This collaboration is a powerful example of how joint efforts can transform farming communities,” Roy said, adding that NABARD’s JIVA initiative would also help support natural farming practices in the region.
The programme is expected to reduce over-reliance on traditional crops while creating jobs in both cultivation and cocoa-based processing. As farmers diversify and strengthen climate resilience, Namsai could emerge as a major cocoa-growing district in Northeast India, opening a new chapter in the region’s sustainable agriculture future.
Image credit: chocmod.com
