Govt to launch Ginger Mission and Spice Mission

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 10, 2022

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday announced various mission mode programmes varying from turmeric to animal husbandry and prominently a new Ginger Mission to be implemented in the State on a large scale for boosting the economy of the State.

Under the Lakadong Mission, Sangma informed the production of turmeric has increased from 6,500 metric tons to 12,800 metric tons over the last three years. Fifteen processing units are being set up across the Laskein and Thadlaskein blocks in West Jaintia Hills. During 2022-23, an additional area of 500 hectares will be brought under lakadong cultivation and a curcumin extraction unit will also be set up and Rs 10 crore has been earmarked in 2022-23.

Under Integrated Bee Development Centre’, Sangma said that the Centre is being constructed at a cost of Rs 10 crore at Sambrak, North Garo Hills and will be inaugurated soon with a total allocation of Rs 10 crore for the honey mission for 2022-23.

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Besides the above, the the mushroom mission and the aroma mission are progressing well and the Government is allocating Rs 5 crore for each of these missions.

Announcing the launch of new Ginger Mission worth Rs 10 crore in this financial year 2022-23, the Chief Minister said the government recognizes that ginger is a very important crop in the State where around 10,000 hectares are being covered under ginger and the annual production stands at 66,000 metric tons. There is huge potential to increase the income of the farmers through developing the ginger value chain.

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The climatic conditions in the State are also extremely suitable for spices such as cinnamon, large and small cardamom, nutmeg and cloves, Sangma said to leverage on the same, the Govt will be launching the ‘Spice Mission’ with an investment of Rs 10 crore during 2022-23.

Apart from spices, there is an immense potential for the cultivation of herbs such as rosemary, basil, oregano, parsley and thyme in Meghalaya and the Govt will be taking up the cultivation of all these herbs to cover an area of 100 hectares during 2022-23 with an amount of Rs 10 crore, he informed.

Sangma said the trials of buckwheat plantation conducted in Smit, Umtong and other villages of East Khasi Hills district have been successful and they will be scaling up to an area of 1,000 hectares in 2022-23 with a total allocation of Rs 5 crore.

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In the textiles sector, a ‘Centre of Excellence’ is being set up at the Shillong sericulture farm and other departmental infrastructure is being upgraded to benefit the sericulture farmers and weavers with an amount of Rs 63 crore for the textiles sector, according to the Chief Minister.

Drone are now available for delivery of Lakadong Turmeric directly from farmers

Under the Piggery mission, the Govt support has been provided to 900 individuals for pig breeding and 2,600 individuals for pig fattening and an amount of Rs 35 crore has been disbursed to 195 piggery cooperatives under the mission, he also informed under the milk mission, 588 new cattle have been inducted with a total amount of Rs 52 crore for the Piggery and the Milk missions.

The government will initiate the poultry and the goatery missions with support from the ‘National Cooperative Development Corporation’ during 2022-23 with an investment of Rs 200 crore, he added.