HORTICULTURE BASED BUSINESS

OPPORTUNITIES IN MIZORAM

Dr Robert Lalrinsanga
Horticulture Development Officer
Directorate of Horticulture
Aizawl, Mizoram
12.04.2018
 1. Mizoram Horticulture at a glance
• Total geographical Area : 21,087 sq km
• Became the 23rd State of India on 20th February, 1987
• Potential Horticulture Area : 11.56 lakh Ha (55%)
• Present Horticulture Area : 1.51 lakh Ha (13%)
• GSDP : 18.75% by Agriculture & Allied Sector (> 50% by Hort.) 2015-16 data
• Climate
• Average humidity : Minimum – 60%
Maximum – 95%
• Average Temperature : 11°C – 21°C winter
20°C – 33°C Summer
• Average Annual Rainfall : 250 cm per annum
• Soil Type : Loamy to clay, rich in organic
carbon and moderately rich in
available Potash,
Acidic in nature with pH range of 4.5 – 6.5
 2. HOW TO GET HERE ?

Mode of
Sl.No connectivity Destinations Remarks

1 Air connectivity
Daily flights by Air India and Jet Airways from Lengpui Airport in Aizawl to the international airports in
Delhi ,Kolkata (WB) and Guwahati (Assam)
Flights to Imphal (Manipur) on alternate days.

2 Road
connectivity Connected with the rest of the country by NH -54 through Cachar District of Assam state.
Guwahati (506 km), Imphal (374 km), Shillong (450 km), Agartala (443 km)

Road connectivity to Myanmar from Zokhawthar town in Champhai District of Mizoram to the western
part of Myanmar
Work in progress to connect Sittwe port by road and river transport under Kaladan Multi Modal Transit
Transport Project (KMTTPP) from Lawngtlai town in southern Mizoram.

3 Rail Rail head connection up to Bairabi in north-western part of Mizoram under Kolasib District (103
connectivity km from Silchar, 4h15m)
Rail head expected to reach Sairang town near Aizawl from Bairabi by 2020.
3. ACTIVITIES UNDER HORTICULTURE
DEPARTMENT

1. Fruits Development
2. Vegetable Development
3. Flower Development
4. Spices & Condiments
5. Mushroom
6. Plantation Crops
7. Protected Cultivation
8. Production of Quality planting materials
9. On Farm Water Management
10. Post Harvest Management
11. Plant Protection
12. Horticulture Input/Machinery
 4. FOCUS AREAS

1) Area expansion and productivity enhancement of important horticultural cops

2) Production of quality planting materials through COEs & Registered nurseries)
3) Protected cultivation
4) Creation of water sources/water harvesting structures
5) Off-season vegetable cultivation
6) Conduction of awareness campaigns, training, demonstrations and adoption of viable
technologies from competent agencies/institutions
7) Connectivity to crop production sites
8) Organization of famers’ group (FIGs, FPOs etc.)
9) Creation of post harvest infrastructures
10) Facilitating marketing of horticultural crop produces (Rural markets, Retail markets etc.)
 COE, Thingdawl COE, Lunglei

Horticulture Centre, Champhai Horticulture Centre, Chite

 Cold Room cum Pack House at Centre of Excellence, Thingdawl

Walk-in Cold Room at Lengpui Airport Terminal Building

in the state capital of Aizawl Multi Purpose Pack House at Hort.Centre, Chite
 NURSERY REGISTRATION & ACCREDITATION

No. of registered and valid No. of NHB

nurseries under Department of Location accredited Location
Horticulture nurseries

*Kolasib (1),
Aizawl, Champhai, Champhai (2 )
6
Kolasib, Serchhip, **Serchhip(1)
27 -3 nurseries(*)
Lawngtlai, Lunglei,
-3 nurseries(**) Mamit, (1)
Siaha, Mamit
Kolasib (1)
Horticulture Minister inspecting Nurseries with Department Officials
5. Area and production of different horticultural crops (%)
Area Production

Others(1.67%) Others(1.56%)

Spices (13.84%)
Spices (18.25%) Pla
n tati
o nc
rop
s(1
.53
%)

Plantation crops(8.72%) Fruits (46.72%)

Fruits (41.51%)

Vegetables(36.35%)

Vegetables(29.90%)
Area and Production of important horticultural crops in Mizoram
A. Fruit Crops B. Vegetable crops

Sl Area Production Sl Area Production

Name of crop Name of crop
No (‘000 Ha.) (‘000 MT) No (‘000 Ha.) (‘000 MT)

Mandarin 1 Chayote 4.79 81.93

1 16.03 80.15
Orange
2 Banana 11.00 141.04 2 Cabbage 3.69 49.63

3 Grapes 2.45 18.00 3 Lady’s finger 3.63 25.02

4 Papaya 1.25 26.50
4 Bitter Gourd 5.25 25.37

5 Limes/Lemons 8.10 25.90

5 Brinjal 2.38 19.24

6 Dragon fruit 0.50 0.08 6 Broccoli 0.86 6.37

7 Beans 2.50 6.17

7 Hatkora 2.14 6.84
Capsicum /
8 0.34 3.67
Green Chillies
8 Pineapple 4.97 32.98
9 Tomato 1.29 12.85

(2016-17 data)
 C. Plantation and Spice Crops C. Flowers

Sl Area Production Sl Area Production

Name of crop Name of crop
No (‘000 Ha.) (‘000 MT) No (‘000 Ha.) (Nos)

1 Arecanut 11.86 13.04 150.50

1 Anthurium 0.0103
lakhs

2 Mizo Chilli 11.16 10.72

90.13
2 Rose 0.024
lakhs
3 Ginger 8.55 62.74

4 Turmeric 7.48 28.89

(2016-17 data)
6. Decadal growth of Horticulture in Mizoram
Year
Crops Particulars Decadal growth Growth rate (%)
2004-05 2014 -15

Fruits Area 10.99 60.297 49.30 69

Production 53.25 350.91 297.66 73
Productivity 0.0047 0.0058 0.0011 10
Vegetables Area 6.19 42.48 36.29 74
Production 34.38 260.99 226.61 76
Productivity 0.0055 0.0061 0.0006 9
Spices Area 6.22 23.37 17.15 57
Production 41.08 65.72 24.64 23
Productivity 6.60 2.77 (-)3.83 (-) 45
Flowers Area 0.053 0.198 0.145 57
Production 3.97 Nos 475.43 Nos 471.46 98
Productivity 75 Nos 2503 Nos 2428 Nos 94

Area =‘000 Ha, Production = ‘000 MT, Flower Production = No. in lakh
 7. Identified marketable horticulture crops

Sl Approx. Rate at Farm Gate

Name of crop Peak period of availability Characteristics/quality parameters/location etc
No
1 Mizo Mandarin Dec – Jan. Rs.70/- kg (a) Aizawl, Mamit, Serchhip & Khawzawl (b) 800 – 2000 fruits per plant
(c) 500 fruits per plant (Avg) (d) 10˚Brix(TSS) (e) High Vit C (f) TSS/Acid
ratio:11-14 (g) 100-180 g fruit weight (h) 6-8 nos per fruit (i) good market

2 Dragon fruit June – Oct. Rs.200 – 250/- per kg (a) Red and white flesh (b) 150-700 g /frt (c) 5 harvests/yr (June- Dec) (d) anti
aging property, lowers cholesterol & glucose level (e) improves immune system,
reduces weight, good antioxidant (f) prevents cancer (g) jams, jellies, fruit juice,
wine, ice creams etc (h) Lunglei, Aizawl, Lawngtlai & Serchhip districts.

3 Pineapple July – Sept. Rs.10/- per fruit (a) Giant Kew: 1.5 -3 kgs/frt,8-12˚Brix(TSS), highly juicy, good keeping quality
(b) Queen : 600 -800 g/frt, 10-14˚Brix(TSS),unique sweetness and aroma
(c ) Luimawi, Sialhawk, Khawhai, New Chalrang etc

4 Hatkora Jan - Feb Rs. 3/- per fruit (a)300 -600 g/frt (b) peel is used as flavouring agent (c) flesh is used for pickling
(d) seed is used as traditional medicine for control of high BP (e) juice is used as
digestive drink (f) high ascorbic acid content (36.47-49.77mg/ml) (g) Mamit &
Kolasib Dist.

5 Zo Banana July -Oct. Rs.50/- kg (a) 10-12 kgs per bunch (b) 70 -80 fingers per bunch (c) 140-150 g per finger.
(Giant (d) About 7 fingers/bunch (e) 8.5-9.27 mg/100g Vit.C content
Cavendish) (f) Unique taste and flavor (g) good sugar/acid blend (h) Khumtung, Baktawng
etc (contd. next
slide)
 Identified marketable horticulture crops

Sl Approx. Rate at Farm Gate

Name of crop Peak period of availability Characteristics/quality parameters/location etc
No

6 Arecanut Oct -Feb Rs.80 -100/- per kg (a) Local varieties mainly cultivated (b) 30-35 nuts/kg (c) no market problems
(d) Skop (e) Mamit dist.(> 6.4 crores), Kolasib Dist.(> 4.7 crores)

7 Mizo Chilli Oct - Feb Rs. 200-300/- per kg (a) 2-3 g/frui (b) 2-4cm L, 0.5-1 cm dia (c) 1.1% Capsaicin content (d) >2,00,000
SHU (e) anti-oxidant,anti-carcinogenic, anti-bacterial (f) Aizawl & Champhai
contribute 35 % of total production.

8 Ginger Jan – April Rs.20 -40/- per kg (a) Thingpui, Thingria, Thinglaidum, Nadia etc (b) highly pungent (c) Aizawl &
Serchhip Dist contribute 35% of the total production.

9 Turmeric Feb - April Rs.10 - 15/- per kg(green) (a) Megha-1 & Lakadong
Rs.80 - 90/- per kg (dry finger) (b) Curcumin content (5-6%)
Rs.120 - 150/- per kg (c) Small Processing Unit at Reiek ,Mamit
(powder) (d) Processing & Packaging Unit at Tisopi in Siaha Dist. Received PM’s Award
for Excellence in PA under PMKSY on 21st April in N.Delhi..
(e) Mamit & Serchhip Dist contribute 43% of total production.
10 Chayote Aug. – Sept. Rs.30/- per kg (a) 17mg/100g Ca content (b) most nutritious amongst cucurbits (c) established
market but rates controlled by middlemen (d) Sihphir, Durtlang, Lungdai,
Serkhan, Nisapui, North Bualpui etc

11 Anthurium Throughout the year Rs.7/- per number (Avg) (a) Introduced from Holland (b) Has adapted very well to the local agro-climatic
conditions (c) ZAGS hamdles collection & marketing (d) flowers sent to Phool
Mandi, Gazipur in N.Delhi (e) Aizawl, Serchhip, Kolasib & Lunglei Districts.
M.Orange Dragonfruit Pineapple

Arecanut Hatkora Banana Mizo Chilli

Ginger Turmeric plant

Chow chow Turmeric powder

Anthurium plants Sorting and packing of Anthurium flowers

Aloe vera plants Aloe vera soap

 8. CURRENT MARKET-CHAIN SCENARIO
1.

2.

3.

4. Cultivator Trader Consumer

5.
9. DESIRABLE MARKET CHAIN LINKAGE

Crop cluster

Collection Centre/ Primary

Processing Unit/ Cold
Storage at Crop Cluster

Consumer
EXPORT
10. PROPOSED COLD CHAIN SYSTEM (2017-18)
 11. STRENGTH
 Conducive local agro-climatic conditions for successful commercial cultivation of many hort. Crops.

 Huge untapped potential as Mizoram lies well within the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot

 Crop produce mainly organic by default

 About 60 -70% of the State’s population are farmers

 One of the most literate states in India (91.85% literacy percentage)

 The most peaceful state in the whole of North-East India.

 Well organized society/societal structure

 Sincere intention of the government to boost hort/agri development in the state.

 Priority and emphasis of the Govt to promote PHM and value addition

 Upcoming educated young entrepreneurs

 Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project

 Railhead up to Bairabi in north western Mizoram. To be soon connected to Aizawl at Sairang. Plans are on to extend the rail line up to the southern most part of Mizoram
Lawngtlai to Zochachhuah Highway under KMMTTP
 12. OPPORTUNITIES

 Act East Policy of the Indian Government. Mizoram, the corridor to South East Asian countries

 Marketing of niche organic items

 Has tremendous potential to become the Organic Spice Hub of India.

 Contract farming

 Value addition for enhanced marketing and competitive pricing

 Cross border trade with south east Asian countries and Bangladesh (KMMTTP)

 Exploring/utilization of local species with local farmers and entrepreneurs for profitable returns

 Huge room for area expansion. Only about 13% of potential area under cultivation.

 Government is ready to give full support for promotion of horticultural & allied activities
 Percent increased (%)
NLUP Production
Sl No Name of Crops Area (Ha.)
Impact (MT) Area Production
Before NLUP 4,800 12,000
1 Arecanut After NLUP 7,574 19,389 57.79% 38.11%
Increased/Difference 2,774 7,389
Before NLUP 2,250 34,875
2 Chayote After NLUP 4,500 75,075 100% 115.27%
Increased/Difference 2,250 40,200
Before NLUP 1,232 13,736
3 Grape After NLUP 2,380 31,226 93.18 % 127.33 %
Increased/Difference 1,148 17,490
Before NLUP 5,348 13,265
Mandarin Orange After NLUP
4 8,960 24,102 67.54% 81.70%
Increased/Difference 3,612 10,837
Before NLUP 430 2,808
5 Pineapple After NLUP 3,000 21,960 597.67 % 682.05 %
Increased/Difference 2,570 19,152
Before NLUP 520 2,080
6 Mango After NLUP 750 3,473 44.23 % 66.95 %
Increased/Difference 230 1,393
 13. What needs to be done ?

i. Cluster approach in identified potential areas

ii. Focus on specific crops with good market potential
iii. Production and planting of only quality planting materials
iv. All weather link road
v. Consistent production
vi. Value addition and post harvest management for competitive marketing and
pricing
vii. Efficient market chain system/supply-demand
viii. Attracting educated youths, entrepreneurs, investors into horticulture farming
ix. Different approaches to subsistence farming &commercial farming
x. Contract farming/PPP/Crop loans
xi. Promoting Mizoram as the Organic Spice Hub of India
Thank you