The presentation highlights select agricultural investment opportunities in North East India and the roadmap for integrated value chain development for high value crops.

1. Agri-investment Opportunities in
North East India and Integrated
value chain development for HVC.
Dr.M.Islam Barbaruah
Director, Vet Helpline ( India ) Pvt.Ltd
Chief Development Strategist, FARMER

2. 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 and
Communication Infrastructure.
 Social Systems, Traditional Practices, including ownership of
assets.
 Natural constraints of Productivity and supply chain
constraints e.g. Aggregation of produce.
 Predominance of First Generation Entrepreneurs

3. Glimpse of Changing face of Agriculture in North
East.
A buzzing weekly
Paddy market in
Assam
Commercial
Mustard
Cultivation in
Assam

4. Glimpse of Changing face of Agriculture in North
East.
Black paper
Production in Tea
Gardens of Assam
Commercial
Assam Lemon
Production

5. Glimpse of Changing face of Agriculture in North
East.
A buzzing Betal nut market in Assam

6. Glimpse of Changing face of Agriculture in North
East. ( Contd.)
Strawberry, Pineapple, Turmeric Production in Meghalaya

7. Glimpse of Changing face of Agriculture in North
East.( Contd.)
Apple, Kiwi and Orange Production in Arunachal Pradesh

8. Glimpse of Changing face of Agriculture in North
East.( Contd.)
Naga King Chilly cultivation and Contract growing of Medicinal and
Aromatic Plants in Nagaland

9. Glimpse of Changing face of Agriculture in North
East ( Contd.)
Floriculture in Sikkim and Mizoram

10. Glimpse of Changing face of Agriculture in North
East ( Contd.)
Rubber Production in Tripura

11. Some potentials unexplored:
Silkworm pupae for food

12. Some potentials unexplored:
Carambola Jack fruit

13. Some potentials unexplored:
Roselle or Assam Susur

14. Possibilities for investment :
 Rice & Mustard processing ( e.g. Modern Rice Milling)
 Contract Farming & Aggregation ( Pre-processing ) – High
Value Horticulture / Medicinal & Aromatic plants.
 Fruit Processing plants.
 Flavor/ Essence extraction ( from wild minor fruits and
herbs ) plants.
 Wine manufacturing unit ( e.g. Kiwi wine )
 Silkworm pupae processing unit for food.

15. 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 Vs
Traditional )
•Political Risk ( e.g. Acceptance of corporate! Sub regional
issues)

16. The Road Map:
 VCA with detail mapping of production clusters, associated
institution and infrastructures.
 Collation of reliable production statistics with contracting
and aggregation possibilities.
 Regional level entity (PPP) for investment in terminal
market and management of franchisee vendor network.
 Capacity building* of franchisee vendor institutions for
contracting, aggregation and pre-processing / packaging.
 Infrastructure, credit and technological assistance to
vendor institutions. ( Looking for synergy ! )

17. Suggested project components:
 Technical Assistance : VCA with GIS based mapping;
Development of dynamic database for ICT based market
information services; Terminal and Export Market Analysis;
TNA and Environment Analysis for CB framework
development.
 Institution & Capacity building
 Technology & credit facilitation ( e.g. aggregation and PHM)
 Infrastructure Assistance ( e.g. For IVC in identified HVC
only )

18. barbaruah73@yahoo.co.in