Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma today launched the state’s flagship programme, Ginger Mission and exuded confidence that the State would become the third largest producer of ginger in the country.
Under the mission, the government has earmarked Rs 121 crore for a period of three years with an aim to double the ginger production in the State to at least 1.5 lakh MT per annum in the from its current production of about 60,000 MT per annum.
The government would be spending about Rs 18 crore in the first year to procure 2,200 MT on quality planting materials and will be distributed freely to about 9000 farmers this year covering about 400 Villages, about Rs 6 crore on package of practices, training to farmers etc. and to set up 30 new processing units across the State at Rs 7.5 crore. On marketing and creation of packaging units the government has pegged the expenditure to Rs 1 crore.
Through the mission, the Department of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare will introduce improved and high yielding varieties of ginger like – IISR Mahima, IISR Varada and Nadia (which is currently being grown widely in the State).
About 50,000 farmers will be benefited and the area of production will be increased from 10,000 ha to 12,500 ha. Apart from introducing high yielding and improved varieties of ginger, the mission imparts training to farmers on the Package of Practices (POP) and the latest production technology, collectivization and aggregation, processing of ginger and market linkage.
“By the end of the mission, the government is confident that Meghalaya would become the third largest producer of ginger in the country,” the chief minister said at the launch function held at the Integrated Agriculture Training Centre in Upper Shillong.
He said that in the past several programmes for farmers welfare were introduced, however, the objective to enhance farmers’ earning was not achieved. “Through Ginger Mission and other flagship farmers’ programmes, the government has designed a dedicated road map to ensure that farmers’ incomes were doubled,” he stressed.
He also said that the indigenous variety “Sying Makhir” which is highly medicinal will also be promoted through this programme. “Our local variety of ginger Ing Makhir has medicinal properties and through this mission we will ensure its development and promotion”, he said.
During the launch, the chief minister also handed over the improved varieties of ginger samples to the farmers, who attended the programme.
