The Nagaland Government has moved forward with plans to set up India’s first Centre of Excellence (CoE) for kiwifruit at Pfutsero in Phek district, in partnership with New Zealand, which is globally known for its advanced kiwifruit production.
A high-level meeting was recently held in Kohima between Nagaland’s Minister for Water Resources and Horticulture, Salhoutuonuo Kruse, and an 11-member delegation from New Zealand and New Delhi at Kisama to review the progress of the proposed project.
The delegation included six scientists and experts from New Zealand’s Bioeconomy Science Institute (BSI), along with officials from the New Zealand High Commission in New Delhi and representatives from India’s Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
One of the main points discussed was the installation of a weather monitoring station at the proposed Centre of Excellence site in Pfutsero. Once established, it will be the first such facility under the Nagaland Horticulture Department.
The station will provide real-time data on weather conditions, soil health, and water quality. This information is expected to support precision farming and help improve both the yield and quality of kiwifruit in the region.
Officials said the initiative aims to promote scientific farming practices and strengthen the skills of local farmers through data-driven agricultural methods.
The New Zealand team from BSI will also carry out preliminary surveys at the site and interact with kiwifruit growers across Nagaland to study existing farming practices and identify areas for improvement.
During the meeting, Minister Kruse expressed gratitude to the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the New Zealand delegation for their support. She also suggested future exchange programmes that would allow farmers from Nagaland to visit New Zealand for advanced training in kiwifruit cultivation.
Overall, the project is seen as an important step toward strengthening international cooperation in agriculture and boosting horticulture development in Nagaland through modern scientific techniques.