YAZALI, Feb 19: In a significant step towards strengthening value addition and empowering local farmers, a Spices Processing Centre was inaugurated at Yazali in Keyi Panyor district on Thursday.
The facility was inaugurated by Deputy Director, Department of Trade & Commerce, Toko Togur, in the presence of Rev Bishop Benny Varghese Edathattel of the Diocese of Itanagar, Trade Development Officer of Keyi Panyor, Tai Arun, and Toko Bath, Executive Development, Itanagar Divisional Office of Spices Board of India, along with entrepreneurs, farmers, PRI members, church leaders and officials.
In his inaugural address, Toko Togur said the centre would benefit spice growers not only from the district but also from neighbouring districts such as Kra Daadi, Lower Subansiri and Kamle.
Highlighting initiatives under Ease of Doing Business (EODB), he informed that the Department of Trade & Commerce is delivering trading licences in a hassle-free manner through the EODB portal and ranks among the top-performing departments in service delivery. He further stated that the State Government is aggressively promoting entrepreneurship and that various loan schemes are available to support production and promotion of local products.
He announced that an Export Facilitation Centre will soon be established at the Department’s headquarters in Chimpu, Itanagar, enabling exporters to process export-import formalities within the state instead of travelling to cities like Guwahati, Kolkata or Delhi.
Encouraging wider market exposure, Togur urged farmers to showcase their agri-horti produce at the annual India International Trade Fair in New Delhi. He added that the Department collaborates with the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), Kolkata, to provide handholding training on import-export procedures and assured that local farmers would be nominated for upcoming training batches.
Blessing the centre, Bishop Edathattel said the facility would ensure fair value for farmers’ produce, prevent exploitation by middlemen, and uphold justice for their hard work through proper value addition. He expressed hope that the centre would inspire increased production and assured continued cooperation from the Church in developmental initiatives.
Successful entrepreneur Tatung Tama, proprietor of Tam’s Organic Pvt Ltd, encouraged farmers to focus on indigenous spices, noting the high national and international demand for Arunachal’s naturally grown produce.
She advised against the use of chemical fertilisers and urged farmers to continue traditional organic practices using manure and cow-based inputs. She also appealed to the public to support the “Vocal for Local” movement by consuming locally produced food.
Toko Bath of the Spices Board of India and Mudang Mamung, proprietor of Mamon Brews, also shared insights on processing, branding and marketing opportunities.
Keyi Panyor district is known for spices such as ginger, large cardamom and turmeric. In the absence of processing facilities, farmers were often compelled to sell their produce to agents at low prices.
The newly inaugurated centre, with a processing capacity of 1,000 kg per day, is expected to significantly enhance value addition, ensure better price realisation, and bring renewed hope to farmers of the district and adjoining areas.