The production of turmeric from Meghalaya has increased from 6,500 metric tons to 12,800 metric tons over the last three years under the Lakadong Mission and 15 processing units are being set up across the Laskein and Thadlaskein blocks in West Jaiñtia Hills.
Informing this in the budget today, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said that 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. He also said that Rs 10 crore has been earmarked for these initiatives for 2022-23.
He also said that ginger is a very important crop in the State and currently, 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,” Sangma said while also informing that Rs 10 crore was allocated for 2022-23 for the launch of a new Ginger Mission.
Stating that the climatic conditions in the State are also extremely suitable for spices such as cinnamon, large and small cardamom, nutmeg and cloves, Sangma said that in order to leverage on the same, the State government will be launching the Spice Mission with an investment of Rs 10 crore during 2022-23.
He also said that 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 State government will be taking up the cultivation of all these herbs to cover an area of 100 hectares during 2022-23. According to him, Rs 10 crore was earmarked towards this.
Sangma said that another high value crop that can be grown in temperate regions like Meghalaya is buckwheat and the trials that were conducted in Smit, Umtong and other villages of East Khasi Hills district have been successful.
“We will be scaling up to an area of 1,000 hectares in 2022-23,” he said, adding that Rs 5 crore was allocated for buckwheat cultivation in the State.
The chief minister said that Mushroom Mission and Aroma Mission are progressing well and Rs 5 crore was allocated for each of these two missions.
He also informed that Rs 10 crore was allocated for the Honey Mission for 2022-23. Further, an amount of Rs 52 crore was allocated for the Piggery and the Milk missions.
Sangma said that the State government will initiate the Poultry Mission and Goatery Mission with support from the National Cooperative Development Corporation during 2022-23 with an investment of Rs 200 crore.
