INDIAN STATE : NAGALAND

Major industries

Tourism

The picturesque landscape of the hilly state of Nagaland and its manifold cultures and customs and the salubrious climate offer vast potential for development of tourism Industry in the state.

Each of the 16 major tribes has their own distinctive colorful costumes, festivals, dances and music. Nagaland is aptly called "land of festivals". The rich art and culture of the people is a major tourist attraction.

The Government of India's decision to release the RAP will open new opportunities for development of tourism industry.

Opportunities exist in eco-tourism, adventure tourism, anthropological tourism and ethnic culture tourism, setting up of tourist resorts, private air taxi service, tour operation, augmentation of present tourist facilities, etc. Existing tourist spots are:

• World War II Cemetery at Kohima
  
• Tourist village at Touphema
  
• Shilloi lake in Phek district
  
• Intangki Wildlife Sanctuary in Peren Sub-division
  
• Dzüleke river
  
• Saramati Peak in Tuensang district
  
• Japfü Peak in Kohima district

Handloom and Handicrafts

Handicrafts and handloom sector in Nagaland have vast potential for growth due to the availability of abundant skills, raw materials and rich cultural traditions of its people. The natural skills of the Nagas lie in basketry, pottery, cultivation, spinning and weaving, carving, dyeing metal work etc. the Nagas are inherently skilled people and their handicrafts and handloom products are well known for the beauty and intricacies of work.

The art of woodcarving is as old as the history of the Nagas being associated with religious beliefs and practices. Cane and Bamboo grow abundantly in the forests and hills of the state. With the ready availability of raw materials, Nagas became expert basket makers. Basketry is carried out in almost every village of the state. Besides basketry, artisans of the state have also started making furniture and a wide variety of decorative items.

The main traditional crafts of the state are its rich handloom and handicraft, which have widespread appeal and demand in the domestic as well as offshore markets. Traditional techniques for weaving on loin-looms or use of primitive tools are labor intensive and time consuming. With the easy availability and applicability of modern techniques and tools, there is substantial scope for growth in this sector.

Agriculture and allied sector

Nagaland has basically an agrarian economy. Over 70% of the population is dependent on agriculture. The main crops are rice, millet, maize and pulses. Cash crops like sugarcane and potato are also becoming popular. Coffee, cardamom and tea are grown as plantation crops in Nagaland.

Rice is the dominant crop and also the staple diet of the people. Of the gross cropped area under food grains, rice accounts for about 70%. Oil seeds are also an important crop. It includes rapeseed, mustard etc. Coffee, cardamom and tea are grown as plantation crops in Nagaland. Principal crops are Arums, yams, millet, maize, potatoes and sugarcane. Vegetable crops are melon, cucumbers, spinach leaf, mustard, onion, chillies, carrots, tomatoes, brinjal etc.

The agriculture and allied sectors in Nagaland offer good inputs for development of a host of industries which could include: floriculture, horticulture, rubber plantation and allied industries, sericulture, tea cultivation and processing, bamboo shoot preservation, mushroom cultivation and processing, piggery, poultry, etc.