Meghalaya’s Aroma Mission has roped in 3,000 farmers to use wasteland to transform aromatic plants into valuable products while promoting sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices.
This was stated in an official press release issued today heralding the success of the mission, which was launched in 2019. The ultimate aim is to double farmers’ incomes and enhance their livelihoods.
During a visit to one of the Aroma Mission sites at Byrwa in Ri-Bhoi on July 7, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, accompanied by senior civil servants, expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved in aromatic plant cultivation and the production of products like essential oils and natural repellents.
The Aroma Mission operates 13 essential oil distillation units in collaboration with women entrepreneurs. These units propagate various plants such as citronella, lemongrass, turmeric, vetiver, winter green, geraniums and more.
These plants thrive even in severely degraded land where other crops struggle to grow. Moreover, their thick fibrous root system contributes to recharging groundwater and springs and they are also efficient soil binders and prevent soil erosion.
The CM assured the farmers involved in aromatic plant cultivation of the government’s unwavering assistance to scale up their enterprises. He encouraged them to share their future plans to ensure the long-term success of this business, benefiting both the farmers and the state economically. Furthermore, Sangma emphasised the government’s commitment to fostering collaboration among organisations to create more value-added products from aromatic plants.
To bolster the capabilities of the Byrwa unit, he also announced additional financial aid from the government for the purchase of machinery. Furthermore, the cultivators are exploring the possibilities of extracting oil for perfume production, expanding their product range.
Ten essential aromatic plants, well-suited to the agro-climatic conditions in Meghalaya, are being cultivated under the mission, which plans to double the area under cultivation to 1,000 hectares. The Aroma Mission has achieved a production output of 4 tonnes, significantly contributing to the state’s aromatic plant industry.
