06

In the highlands of Nagaland, where mist rises early and lingers over the hills, Ngon, a farmer from Noklak District, wakes before dawn. For generations, his family has farmed these lands, cultivating rice, maize, millets and vegetables by hand, relying on tools that had changed little in hundreds of years. But this season is different. As the sun crests over the mountains, Ngon doesn’t head to his field with a hoe slung over his shoulder. Instead, he walks confidently toward a new machine parked near his home - a Power Tiller. 

Farm mechanization has arrived in Nagaland, bringing with it new possibilities for farmers like Ngon, who had long believed that modern farming equipment couldn’t work on their rugged, sloping lands. 

A New Beginning: Overcoming Tradition 

For decades, Nagaland’s agriculture was deeply rooted in tradition. Farming was done the way it always had been: by hand, with simple tools, and on land shaped by natural contours. Shifting cultivation, known as Jhum, was a way of life. Families cleared patches of forest, farmed the land until the soil was exhausted, and then moved on to new plots. 

Ngon’s family had practiced Jhum farming for as long as he could remember. “It’s the way our ancestors worked the land,” he says with pride. “But I could see that it was getting harder each year. With fewer people to help, it became more difficult to maintain the fields.” 

As Ngon’s children left for education and jobs in nearby towns, he and his wife found themselves working the fields alone. “We were always tired, and our yields were decreasing. I knew something had to change.” 

The First Steps Toward Mechanization 

Ngon’s journey toward mechanization began with a visit from an Agricultural Officer. As part of the State’s Agriculture department’s efforts under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM), the Officer explained how small machines, like power tillers and mini-tractors, were being introduced to help farmers like Ngon. Through government subsidies, farmers could avail these machines. 

Ngon was hesitant at first. “I didn’t think machines would work on our land. It’s not like the plains - our fields are steep and uneven.” But curiosity got the better of him, and he attended a demonstration organized by the Department of Agriculture. 

What he saw changed his mind. The power tiller, small and manoeuvrable, easily navigated the terraced fields and ploughed through soil that would have taken Ngon hours to till by hand. “I realized that this machine could save us time and energy,” Ngon recalls. “And it wasn’t just about making work easier - it meant we could plant more, harvest more, and improve our lives.” 

Custom Hiring Centres: A Community Lifeline 

Ngon wasn’t the only one grappling with the challenges of modernization. Many farmers across Nagaland, particularly those with small plots of land, couldn’t afford to purchase their own machinery. That’s when the concept of Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) came into play. 

In Peren district, Suihelhie, a widow who inherited her family’s farm, found herself in a similar predicament. Running the farm on her own, she couldn’t imagine buying expensive equipment. But a new CHC set up in 2023 opened the chance to rent machines at low rates. “The CHC has been a blessing for people like me,” Suihelhie shares. “I can’t afford to buy a power tiller, but I can rent one when I need it. Now, I can plough my fields quickly without hiring extra labour.” 

The CHCs have become a crucial part of Nagaland’s mechanization push. They allow farmers to share resources and access machinery that would otherwise be out of reach. By renting equipment during peak planting and harvesting seasons, even smallholder farmers are reaping the benefits of mechanization. 

Reaching the Unreachable: Power Tiller Paths 

Despite the excitement around mechanization, Nagaland’s geography, with steep hills and isolated villages, poses challenges for transporting and maintaining machinery. Roads in some areas are barely wide enough for small vehicles, complicating access to fields. This is where Power Tiller Paths made a difference. These paths allowed small yet powerful machines to reach remote farms, drastically cutting the time and effort needed to prepare fields. Beyond improved access, they changed how farmers work—allowing for more efficient planting and harvesting, which increased productivity and crop variety.  

Another significant impact of the Power Tiller Paths has been the opening up of previously underutilized land. In many parts of Nagaland, fields were left fallow or abandoned because they were simply too difficult to reach. Narrow, treacherous footpaths meant that only the most accessible land was regularly farmed. 

However, with the creation of Power Tiller Paths, farmers now have access to these previously unreachable areas. Tokhiumong, a farmer in Kioro village, Wokha district, was one of the first to take advantage of the new paths. “There were parts of my family’s land that we hadn’t farmed in years,” he says. “We couldn’t get to them easily, and they were too far from the main road. But now, with the new path, I can take the tiller straight there. It allowed us to expand our farm and grow more rice than ever before.” 

A Future Rooted in Progress 

Farm mechanization in Nagaland is still in its early stages, but change is underway. With support from central schemes like the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM), the state government is working to expand machinery access, improve infrastructure, and train farmers. Small-scale equipment suited to Nagaland’s terrain is helping farmers boost yields and reduce labour.  

For farmers like Ngon and Suihelhie, mechanization is not just a tool but a lifeline, blending tradition with innovation and offering new opportunities. The fields of Nagaland are no longer just places of hard labour; they are becoming spaces where tradition meets innovation, and where the hum of machinery signals a brighter future. 

The Road Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities 

Despite progress in farm mechanization, Nagaland’s farm power availability remains at 0.732 kW/ha—well below the national average of 2.761 kW/ha. This indicates significant potential for further mechanization. While government subsidies and Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) have improved access to machinery, rental costs remain a challenge for some farmers. Continued support will be crucial to ensure that even the smallest landholders can benefit. Yet, farmers like Tokhiumong are optimistic: “I’ve seen what’s possible,” he says as his power tiller completes the last row. This journey reflects a blend of resilience and innovation, pointing to a future where technology drives sustainable growth in agriculture.