The Mizoram government has announced plans to establish areca nut processing units in Kolasib and Mamit districts, a move aimed at boosting agricultural development and improving farmer livelihoods. The initiative will be financially supported by the North Eastern Council (NEC). The decision was shared during a recent review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Lalduhoma, where he assessed the progress of various activities under the Land Resources, Soil and Water Conservation Department. The Chief Minister reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to rural development and stressed the importance of active participation from government employees for effective implementation.
Land Resources Secretary Lalsangliana informed the gathering that the areca nut units will be set up at Champhai in Kolasib district and Zamuang in Mamit district. These projects are part of a broader push to modernise the agricultural sector in Mizoram. In addition to areca nut processing, the state is undertaking multiple agriculture-linked activities. These include the plantation of rubber, coffee, broomsticks, and areca nuts, construction of agricultural link roads, hillside terracing, and warehouse development to support post-harvest storage and trade. A significant policy change was also announced during the meeting — the state government will stop grading broomsticks from next year, responding to challenges faced by farmers in selling their produce under the current grading system.
In support of farmers, the Lalduhoma-led government is actively procuring four key cash crops — ginger, turmeric, Mizo chilli, and broomsticks. This intervention is expected to stabilize market prices and encourage sustainable farming practices.The government also plans to promote coffee cultivation more widely across the state and will distribute 100 subsidised rubber rolling machines to benefit existing rubber clusters, thereby enhancing local processing capacity and income generation.
