The Nagaland government has framed a new Agriculture Policy 2026, which is now awaiting Cabinet approval, Advisor for Agriculture Mhathung Yanthan said.
He made the statement while delivering the inaugural address at the North East Festival of Rice: Grains of Heritage, which began on February 26 at the Agri Expo, 4th Mile, Chümoukedima. The festival has been organised by the INTACH Nagaland Chapter, with support from the Department of Agriculture, ICAR (Meghalaya and Nagaland), and the North East Zone Cultural Centre.
Addressing farmers, researchers and officials from across the north-eastern states, Yanthan said rice is deeply connected with the life and identity of the region. “This festival is historic because it places rice at the center of our collective consciousness,” he said. “For the people of the north-east, rice is not just an agricultural commodity; rice is life, rice is culture, rice is identity for all of us.”
He said rice remains central to the region’s festivals, rituals and oral traditions. From birth ceremonies to harvest celebrations, the crop plays a constant role in social life. He also pointed out that the north-east is recognised as a global biodiversity hotspot. According to him, Nagaland alone has more than 200 identified traditional rice landraces, preserved by farmers over generations through community seed systems.
Yanthan said these traditional varieties have been carefully adapted to different micro-climates across the hills and valleys. However, he noted that agriculture today faces serious challenges due to climate change. Erratic rainfall, floods and droughts have affected farmers in recent years.
He suggested that many traditional rice varieties possess natural traits such as flood tolerance and drought resistance, which could offer solutions in the changing climate. At the same time, he stressed the need for scientific research to improve certain varieties.
“While we talk about preserving traditional germplasms, some of those may not be relevant at this time,” he said. “For example, some varieties take more than 10 months from sowing to harvest. That is too long for management, involving high costs and risks. These are the varieties that need to be improved or changed to be short-duration and high-yielding.”
He added that the new Agriculture Policy 2026 has been framed to guide such changes and strengthen the sector. The policy, he said, aims to balance conservation of heritage crops with modern needs of productivity, income and market access. It is currently awaiting Cabinet approval.
The Advisor also linked rice cultivation to the wider rural economy. He said farming supports not only growers but also artisans, weavers and traders who depend on agricultural cycles. He urged students and young people to take interest in agriculture and pursue careers as scientists, researchers and policy makers.
The festival venue displayed a wide range of rice varieties from across the region. Farmers and experts interacted over seed conservation, research and marketing. Organisers said the event aims to recognise rice as both a food crop and a symbol of shared heritage in the north-east.
