In the culturally rich and naturally endowed state of Nagaland, women have long played a central role in community life, agriculture, and craftsmanship. In recent years, targeted efforts in sectors like handlooms, fruit processing, and canning have further empowered women—transforming them into self-reliant entrepreneurs and change-makers across urban and rural areas.
Government initiatives, NGOs, and local community efforts are actively promoting these industries to help women become financially independent, preserve traditional knowledge, and contribute meaningfully to the state's economy.
Nagaland's traditional handloom sector, rooted in tribal identity and aesthetics, is a stronghold of female participation. Women across Naga tribes are skilled weavers, producing intricate patterns that carry deep cultural significance.
Now, with the support of schemes like:
National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP)
North Eastern Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS)
Samarth – Skill Development Scheme,
women are receiving formal training in design innovation, digital marketing, and value-added production.
Women-led weaving cooperatives in districts like Dimapur, Mokokchung, Tuensang, and Phek have begun scaling operations. Through Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Women Weaver Clusters, many women are earning sustainable incomes by selling handwoven shawls, mekhelas, bags, and home décor items both locally and online.
Private platforms and NGOs are also helping these artisans tap into national and global markets by offering branding and e-commerce access. Importantly, this revival is keeping traditional weaving practices alive while turning them into modern economic opportunities.
Nagaland's horticulture sector, known for its organic produce such as pineapples, oranges, plums, kiwi, passion fruit, and Naga king chili, is being harnessed by women through fruit processing units.
The Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) and State Horticulture Department are playing key roles in:
Setting up fruit processing and packaging units
Providing machinery, training, and marketing linkages
Facilitating cold storage and transportation support
In Medziphema, Wokha, and Zunheboto, women-run cooperatives and SHGs are producing jams, juices, pickles, and dried fruits using locally grown produce. These products are being sold at local markets and state-organized trade expos under the "Made in Nagaland" brand, receiving encouraging responses.
The focus is not only on entrepreneurship but also on reducing post-harvest losses, increasing shelf life, and promoting local employment for other women.
Canning plants, though relatively new in Nagaland, are gaining popularity as a means for women to engage in micro and small-scale food preservation businesses.
Supported by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), Nagaland State Rural Livelihoods Mission (NSRLM), and KVIC (Khadi and Village Industries Commission), these units are offering:
Financial support and machinery
Training in food safety, quality control, and branding
Connections to larger markets and retail outlets
Women are producing canned pineapples, bamboo shoots, pickled king chilies, mushrooms, and passion fruit concentrates. Districts like Dimapur, Kiphire, and Longleng have seen a rise in community canning initiatives led by women SHGs, with products being sold in eco stores and organic marts.
The Nagaland government, through bodies like Women Resource Development Department, NSRLM, and Nagaland Industrial Development Corporation (NIDC), has been supporting women entrepreneurs by:
Providing microcredit and revolving funds
Organizing regular skill development workshops
Creating exhibition platforms like Hornbill Festival and mini-trade fairs
Facilitating access to Common Facility Centers (CFCs)
Additionally, various NGOs and private stakeholders are conducting training on financial literacy, packaging, branding, and the use of digital tools to help women entrepreneurs thrive in competitive markets.
From handlooms that carry the soul of tribal heritage to innovative fruit-based enterprises and food preservation ventures, women in Nagaland are leading a quiet yet powerful revolution. These industries are not just income-generating—they are identity-affirming, community-building, and sustainability-promoting.
With continued policy support, infrastructure, and training, women in Nagaland are poised to transform the state's economic and social fabric—one loom, one jar, and one fruit at a time.