I was actually going to promote my friend Abokali's new business, but I ended up promoting her brother's art exhibition in Kohima first.
In any case, Abokali recently started her own business called Organic Nagaland. As you can guess, they specialise in organic produce from Nagaland - given that artificial fertilisers and pesticides are practically non-existent in most parts of the state, it's not hard to find quality 'organic' produce here. However, it is difficult to transport and store the produce given the lack of infrastructure (such as good roads and constant electricity). Yet somehow she's managed to source local produce like oranges and kiwi fruit (which don't require refrigeration) and market it at recent agriculture expos in Bangalore, Delhi and now Guwahati. In the process, she's also rallied together local farmers, particularly women, and given them a source of income.
The main shop (I'm calling it her flagship store) is in Project Colony, Zunheboto. (Incidentally, her brother also designed the logo for her company.)
It really stands out when compared with other fruit and veg shops in Zunheboto, in that it actually looks nice and the produce isn't covered in dust.
Most of the products are already neatly packaged. The shelves are lined with local soya beans (ayikhu in Sumi).
And the prices are quite reasonable compared to other fruit and veg shops in town. The store also sells local spices, including angothi 'Chinese peppercorns' that are related to Sichuan peppercorns (they also give that 麻辣 málà effect) - don't forget that Nagaland is closer to Southern China than it is to the Ganges floodplain.
And the store also sells axone the fermented soya bean dish that the Sumis are famous for. During the Hornbill Festival, I met a person from America who asked me what 'axe-on' was. I had to explain that it was pronounced 'ah-cho-nie', where the 'ch' is like the 'ch' in German ach or Scottish loch. Given that the sound (a velar fricative) isn't found in any other major Naga language, most people know the dish as akhuni.
What the store sells is the dried version, which lasts quite a bit longer.
All the best with the business Abokali! I'm definitely going to take some stuff with me when I go. Definitely some dried wild apple (soooo good) and a bit of dried axone to bring back to Singapore. I doubt Australian customs would let any of this stuff in.
(Also, if you want to contact her, she has a blog here. I'd put up her email address, but it'll just attract spam.)
In any case, Abokali recently started her own business called Organic Nagaland. As you can guess, they specialise in organic produce from Nagaland - given that artificial fertilisers and pesticides are practically non-existent in most parts of the state, it's not hard to find quality 'organic' produce here. However, it is difficult to transport and store the produce given the lack of infrastructure (such as good roads and constant electricity). Yet somehow she's managed to source local produce like oranges and kiwi fruit (which don't require refrigeration) and market it at recent agriculture expos in Bangalore, Delhi and now Guwahati. In the process, she's also rallied together local farmers, particularly women, and given them a source of income.
The main shop (I'm calling it her flagship store) is in Project Colony, Zunheboto. (Incidentally, her brother also designed the logo for her company.)
It really stands out when compared with other fruit and veg shops in Zunheboto, in that it actually looks nice and the produce isn't covered in dust.
Most of the products are already neatly packaged. The shelves are lined with local soya beans (ayikhu in Sumi).
And the prices are quite reasonable compared to other fruit and veg shops in town. The store also sells local spices, including angothi 'Chinese peppercorns' that are related to Sichuan peppercorns (they also give that 麻辣 málà effect) - don't forget that Nagaland is closer to Southern China than it is to the Ganges floodplain.
And the store also sells axone the fermented soya bean dish that the Sumis are famous for. During the Hornbill Festival, I met a person from America who asked me what 'axe-on' was. I had to explain that it was pronounced 'ah-cho-nie', where the 'ch' is like the 'ch' in German ach or Scottish loch. Given that the sound (a velar fricative) isn't found in any other major Naga language, most people know the dish as akhuni.
What the store sells is the dried version, which lasts quite a bit longer.
All the best with the business Abokali! I'm definitely going to take some stuff with me when I go. Definitely some dried wild apple (soooo good) and a bit of dried axone to bring back to Singapore. I doubt Australian customs would let any of this stuff in.
(Also, if you want to contact her, she has a blog here. I'd put up her email address, but it'll just attract spam.)
Hello Mr. Teo, Greetings from Gujarat (India) !! Thanks to your Blog, I was able to reach out to Organic Nagaland in Zunheboto. I have been hoping to source Organic Produce from the North Eastern part of the country, for sale in my home state of Gujarat. In this connection, Ms Sumi and I have exchanged some emails and spoken over the 'phone and God Willing, shall set up something which benefits the (mainly women, I understand) Farmers in your home state as well as the consumers in my home state. Yes, Transport is the big challenge, which "we shall overcome one day". Meanwhile, we hope to start small, with roots, tubers and other produce that can survive the week or so of (Rail??) transport from Dimapur to Ahmedabad (initially, then other locations in Gujarat also). I understand that you would be visiting your homeland sometime in late August and I hope to have the pleasure of speaking to you over the 'phone at that time, to formally thank you for the lead that your Blog provided. With best regards from Gujarat, Tushar R. Desai.
ReplyDeletePlease share the contact details of Organic Nagaland as we want to procure organic products for our customers in Delhi.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Hello! Firstly would like to thank you for writing an in-depth and interesting blog on such a nice initiative. Secondly, would like to congratulate Organic Nagaland for their wonderful venture!
ReplyDeleteIt would be great if you could share the contact details of Organic Nagaland. My email ID is sethisahil89@gmail.com.
Regards,
Sahil Sethi