3rd North East Agri Expo begins

Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand are taking part in the Expo, jointly organised by the Nagaland government and the union agriculture ministry.

US senator Paul Strauss from the District of Columbia, attended the inauguration session this morning. He was scheduled to sign an MoU with state agriculture and tourism departments, officials said.

Inaugurating the Expo, state Governor Nikhil Kumar stressed the need to have such a platform where policy makers, technocrats, private sector and farmers could come together for exchanging ideas and knowledge.

Chief minister Neiphiu Rio said the main aim of the Expo was to showcase the potential of agriculture and allied sectors in the NE and to promote knowledge-sharing and technology transfer. Besides, "We hope to introduce new technologies and practices which would improve agriculture."

All the north eastern states, various organisations under agriculture ministry and private sector took part in the Expo organised under the theme: Progressive Agriculture.

The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation (TRIFED), an autonomous body under Union ministry of tribal affairs, displayed tribal products from over 40 exhibitors in the Expo.