Agri-investment Opportunities inNorth East India and Integratedvalue chain development for HVC.

Dr.M.Islam BarbaruahDirector, Vet Helpline ( India ) Pvt.Ltd

Chief Development Strategist, FARMER

Understanding North East……..

Strategic Location : Opportunities Vs Threat Political dynamics and Leadership : Role of numerous tribes,The divide with mainland and feeling of alienation Predominant Agri and Natural Resource linked Growth Importance of Bio-diversity. The population density, topography, climate andCommunication Infrastructure. Social Systems, Traditional Practices, including ownership ofassets. Natural constraints of Productivity and supply chainconstraints e.g. Aggregation of produce. Predominance of First Generation Entrepreneurs

Glimpse of Changing face of Agriculture in NorthEast.

A buzzing weeklyPaddy market in

Assam

CommercialMustard

Cultivation inAssam

Glimpse of Changing face of Agriculture in NorthEast.

Black paperProduction in TeaGardens of Assam

CommercialAssam Lemon

Production

Glimpse of Changing face of Agriculture in NorthEast.

A buzzing Betal nut market in Assam

Glimpse of Changing face of Agriculture in NorthEast. ( Contd.)

Strawberry, Pineapple, Turmeric Production in Meghalaya

Glimpse of Changing face of Agriculture in NorthEast.( Contd.)

Apple, Kiwi and Orange Production in Arunachal Pradesh

Glimpse of Changing face of Agriculture in NorthEast.( Contd.)

Naga King Chilly cultivation and Contract growing of Medicinal andAromatic Plants in Nagaland

Glimpse of Changing face of Agriculture in NorthEast ( Contd.)

Floriculture in Sikkim and Mizoram

Glimpse of Changing face of Agriculture in NorthEast ( Contd.)

Rubber Production in Tripura

Some potentials unexplored:

Silkworm pupae for food

Some potentials unexplored:

Carambola Jack fruit

Some potentials unexplored:

Roselle or Assam Susur

Possibilities for investment :

Rice & Mustard processing ( e.g. Modern Rice Milling) Contract Farming & Aggregation ( Pre-processing ) – HighValue Horticulture / Medicinal & Aromatic plants. Fruit Processing plants. Flavor/ Essence extraction ( from wild minor fruits andherbs ) plants. Wine manufacturing unit ( e.g. Kiwi wine ) Silkworm pupae processing unit for food.

The Major risk of Investment in IVC:•People Risk ( e.g. Institution building )•Process risk ( e.g. Dispersed production, Low volume/market holding, Critical actors )•Technological risk (e.g. Smart pre-processing & packaging )•Financial Risk ( e.g. High Transaction cost )•Policy Risk ( e.g. Land consolidation; Diversification to HVC VsTraditional )•Political Risk ( e.g. Acceptance of corporate! Sub regionalissues)

The Road Map: VCA with detail mapping of production clusters, associatedinstitution and infrastructures. Collation of reliable production statistics with contractingand aggregation possibilities. Regional level entity (PPP) for investment in terminalmarket and management of franchisee vendor network. Capacity building* of franchisee vendor institutions forcontracting, aggregation and pre-processing / packaging. Infrastructure, credit and technological assistance tovendor institutions. ( Looking for synergy ! )

Suggested project components:

Technical Assistance : VCA with GIS based mapping;Development of dynamic database for ICT based marketinformation services; Terminal and Export Market Analysis;TNA and Environment Analysis for CB frameworkdevelopment. Institution & Capacity building Technology & credit facilitation ( e.g. aggregation and PHM) Infrastructure Assistance ( e.g. For IVC in identified HVConly )

barbaruah73@yahoo.co.in