Aizawl: Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Saturday said a new system of governance lies at the heart of the Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) government's strategy to create a self-reliant economy in the state. Speaking at the Independence Day function after hoisting the national flag, he emphasised measures to raise living standards, promote food sufficiency and expand livelihood opportunities across Mizoram.
Bana Kaih: beyond cash support
The Chief Minister described the state's flagship Bana Kaih (Handholding) scheme as the administration's most important initiative for transforming the local economy. He said the programme seeks to move beyond mere financial assistance by upgrading skills, generating employment options and strengthening income streams for individuals and families.
"We are taking steps to build a stronger system of governance and a self-reliant, more developed state, while improving the living standards of the people. To achieve self-sufficiency in food and other essential areas, our central vision has been, and will continue to be, a 'people's government' with a new vision and a new approach," he said.
Lalduhoma highlighted that Bana Kaih has been extended to agriculture and allied sectors. The government continues to procure and market ginger and other priority crops cultivated by local farmers, signalling a focus on both production and market linkages.
Funds, procurement and projects
To encourage entrepreneurship, the state has launched a ₹20 crore Mizoram Bana Kaih Venture Capital Fund aimed at supporting youth to start businesses and become self-reliant. The Chief Minister also pointed to policy measures introduced to attract investment, naming the Mizoram Grand Challenge, the Industrial and Investment Policy, 2025, and the establishment of an Investment Promotion Agency.
On procurement support for farmers, Lalduhoma said the state provided ₹140 crore as a support price in 2025 and had disbursed about ₹22 crore in 2026 so far. He underlined initiatives to promote ginger processing and exports, including work around the Sairang Horticulture Centre. The Centre had benefited from central funding, with a sanctioned project for ginger processing noted by the Chief Minister.
| Item | Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Mizoram Bana Kaih Venture Capital Fund | ₹20 crore | 2026 |
| Support price provided | ₹140 crore | 2025 |
| Support disbursed so far | ₹22 crore | 2026 |
| DoNER-sanctioned project (ginger processing) | ₹30.13 crore | — |
Investment push and value chain focus
The Chief Minister said the government is pursuing an integrated approach: supporting farm production, facilitating processing and building market access to improve returns for growers. The launch of the venture capital fund and industry policy are intended to complement direct agricultural support by fostering private enterprise and attracting outside investment.
He cited the Mizoram Grand Challenge as another tool to stimulate innovation and investment in priority sectors. The Investment Promotion Agency, the Chief Minister said, will act as a single-window facilitator to streamline investor engagement.
Balanced development and livelihoods
While setting out economic goals, Lalduhoma also stressed equitable development across the state. He framed the governance reforms as necessary to ensure balanced growth and improved livelihoods in both rural and urban areas, without providing a timeline for full implementation of the new governance architecture.
Officials involved in implementing these programmes will be expected to operationalise the handholding scheme's non-financial components — skill training, market linkages and enterprise support — so beneficiaries can move from subsistence to market-oriented production, the Chief Minister said.
The announcements add to a growing list of state measures aimed at agricultural value‑addition and youth entrepreneurship. Exact implementation schedules and beneficiary lists have not been released with the Independence Day address and will be subject to departmental rollouts and further notifications.
- Bana Kaih expanded to agriculture and allied sectors with procurement support for ginger and key crops.
- ₹20 crore venture capital fund launched to back youth entrepreneurship under the Bana Kaih umbrella.
- Previous procurement supports include ₹140 crore in 2025 and about ₹22 crore so far in 2026; a ₹30.13 crore DoNER project for ginger processing has been sanctioned.
Further details on scheme guidelines, eligibility and rollout phases are awaited from the state departments responsible for agriculture, industry and investment promotion.
