Kohima, Apr 22: Naga People’s Front (NPF) secretary general and MLA Achumbemo Kikon has urged for a significant boost in local pork production to address the state’s growing demand and reduce dependence on external supply. Speaking at the inauguration of a pork outlet in Kohima on Tuesday, Kikon highlighted that Nagaland consumes nearly 60,000 tonnes of pork annually, while local production accounts for only about 30,000 tonnes, leaving a deficit of nearly half.

He emphasized that this supply gap presents a major economic opportunity for farmers and entrepreneurs, particularly educated unemployed youth, who could explore piggery and allied businesses at a time when government employment avenues have reached saturation. Stressing the cultural importance of pork in Naga society and festivals, Kikon underscored the need to prioritize hygienic production and food safety standards to ensure quality consumption.

At the event, Piggman CEO and co-founder Manoj Kumar Basumatary shared the company’s journey from a modest farm of 25 pigs in 2014 to a 200-sow breeding farm producing around 2,500 piglets annually. He noted that the enterprise has been working with farmers to promote scientific pig farming practices, including vaccination, biosecurity, and clean feeding protocols, adapted from European systems to suit local conditions.

Basumatary, who transitioned from banking to pig farming in 2013, said the company expanded into pork processing during the COVID-19 period and now offers a wide range of products using advanced imported equipment. With the Kohima outlet becoming Piggman’s 11th store, he added that the brand aims to further expand across the Northeast and establish itself as a leading local brand nationally.