Meghalaya Govt to examine need to come up with MSP for arecanut

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 20, 2024

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday said the government will examine the proposal for coming up with a minimum support price for arecanut.

Sangma however said that the value of processed arecanut sell almost 10 times the price adding “Therefore, value addition is only way to move forward.”

He was replying to a question raised by UDP legislator from Amlarem Lahkmen Rymbui, who requested the state government to consider coming up with a minimum support price for arecanut.

Rymbui said that the price of arecanut has come down drastically and this has led to more production but less income to the farmers.

He was referring to a notification issued by the Government of India in 2020 fixing the minimum support price for arecanut at Rs 200.

Satisfied with CM’s reply, Rymbui requested the government to consider setting up processing unit in Amlarem to promote arecanut production and mareketing.

Sangma however informed that two out of 46 processing units have been set up in Amlarem. He said close to Rs 41 lakh investment has been made apart from Rs 1 crore, which was already made. 

Earlier in her reply, Minister in-charge Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Ampareen Lyngdoh said 46 processing units consistng of working shed, de-husking machines, solar tunnel dryers and soaked pits are being set up across 21 blocks in 10 districts. Total cost of these is Rs 14.06 crore.

34 units have been completed and the remaining 12 units will be completed in the coming months. 

She said 10 lakh interest free working capital loan for aggregation and marketing of arecanut has been given to each of the 46 cooperatives. 

Lyngdoh also said that arecanut is one of the items that the department of agriculture wil be focusing in the years to come when replying to a query raised  by UDP legislator from Mawkyrwat Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar, who wanted to know if arecanut will be considered as an export item.