ITC Limited today signed an MoU with the Government of Nagaland and the Spices Board for the development of the famed Naga chilli through a host of initiatives across the agri-value chain. These include crop development programmes to improve quality and farm productivity, farm extension services, deployment of customized infrastructure and market development activities.

The tripartite MoU was signed in the presence of the Union Minister of State for Commerce, Mr. Jairam Ramesh, and ITC Chairman, Mr. Y C Deveshwar. The signatories to the MoU were Mr. VJ Kurian, Chairman, Spices Board, Ms. Thangi Mannen, Commissioner and Secretary, Department of Horticulture, Government of Nagaland, and Mr. S. Janardhan Reddy, Chief Executive of ITC's ILTD Division.

ITC's expertise in agri development is being extended to the northeast region through a unique ‘Private-Public Partnership’ model. Under the MoU, ITC will undertake to develop a spice crop (Naga chillies being the first crop) in the identified regions deploying modern tailor-made agriculture practices suitable to the region. Post harvest practices to preserve the product quality, farmer training and development of ‘Organic Spices’ are also part of the MoU.

The implementation will be through partner NGOs who will in turn mobilize SHGs to collect the produce from the growers and undertake the grading and primary processing. ITC will procure the spices produced under the programme. As the scale and scope of the project increases, domestic & export markets and value addition facilities will also be developed.

All these activities under the MoU will be undertaken in close coordination with the State Government and the Spices Board who will make available their various schemes for this project.

In the first phase the States of Nagaland, Manipur and Sikkim will be covered and the MoU will be gradually extended to the other northeastern States.

The northeastern region is endowed with perfect agro-climatic conditions to produce a range of ‘niche quality’ spices like ‘Naga chillies’ (Raja Mirchi with 5 – 6 lakh SHU pungency), Bird’s eye chilli (the smallest chilli with high heat value), Lakadong turmeric (high curcumin content) etc. Due to the inherently low usage of agro chemicals in the region, the northeast lends itself to being developed into the ‘organic spices hub’ of India. The tripartite MoU is a first step in that direction.