Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 234/19

CHIEF MINISTER LAUNCHES AROMA MISSION

Chief Minister, Meghalaya, Shri Conrad K Sangma, today, launched the Aroma Mission and also inaugurated the Processing Unit of Essential Oil at Byrwa in Ri Bhoi District. Addressing the gathering Chief Minister, Shri Conrad K Sangma said that the Aroma Mission is a very important initiative of the State government that will create value to the available resources. Stating that the GDP is the benchmark of economic growth of a nation or a state it becomes all the more important for any government to think of overall development in all sectors so that the economy moves in a realistic and sustainable manner. Adding that the Agriculture and Allied sectors is a very important in economy the government is ensuring that this primary sector get its due returns and the farmers get the income and importance that they deserve.

He informed that products like broomsticks and bay leaves etc will now be categorized as Agro Forestry products so that farmers can easily engage in the sale of these products. He also said that people of the State have traditionally used the medicinal and aromatic plants available in the State for various ailments and diseases and it is about time that the knowledge of the medicinal plants should be given to the rest of the world while ensuring that this indigenous knowledge and skill are protected and patented. The Chief Minister also stated that though the State abounds in medicinal plants not much research is conducted and urged institutions like CSIR-CIMAP to do research and document these plants.

Earlier in his address, Additional Chief Secretary and Agriculture Production Commissioner, Meghalaya, Shri K N Kumar informed that the mission is exclusively for the development of aromatic and medicinal plants of the State. He said that Meghalaya has lots of cultivable wastelands where plantations of this kind can be encouraged. He added that lemon grass and citronella plants will be grown in areas of 50 acres covering 5 hectares in every district to meet the eventual target of 1000 hectares depending on the response of the farmers in the next four to five years. He further informed that the mission of 18 crores is an end to end mission and plantations will be enhanced only when buyers are assured.

The Chief Minister also released the Aroma Mission document and inaugurated the Distillation unit during the occasion. Among others who were present and spoke during the function were Director, CSIR- CIMAP, Shri Abdul Samat, Shri P Sampath Kumar, CEO, MBDA and Deputy Commissioner, Ri Bhoi, Smt R. M Kurbah.

Press Release No. 235/19

MEGHALAYA DIRECTORATE OF DAIRY DEVELOPMENT AND MILK PROCESSING CENTRE INAUGURATED BY CHIEF MINISTER

Meghalaya Chief Minister, Shri Conrad K. Sangma today inaugurated the Directorate of Dairy Development and the Meghalaya Milk Processing Centre at Mawiong, in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Shri. Prestone Tynsong, and other dignitaries. Addressing the gathering the Chief Minister said that the opening of the directorate and the milk processing centre will give milk production in the State a much needed boost and termed it as a massive revolution in the dairy sector.

Stating that almost all North Eastern States were deficient in milk production the Chief Minister was optimistic that the functioning of the new unit will help meet the present demands of milk consumption in the State which currently stands at about 2,00,000 metric tons annually and also secure the nutritional needs of children. ‘There is a huge demand for organic milk. Meghalaya can play a pivotal role to fill up the gap in the supply of organic milk to other States and even neighbouring countries. This is a huge economic opportunity for our State and our farmers, he added. The Chief Minister also informed that the operation of the milk processing unit will be handed over to the East Khasi Hills District Milk Cooperative Union shortly.

During his short speech Dy. Chief Minister, Shri P. Tynsong acknowledged the important role of cooperatives in the milk production sector and urged them to work with commitment as they are a source of providing employment opportunities to thousands of people in both the urban and rural areas of the state.

Earlier, during his address, Agriculture Production Commissioner, Shri. K.N Kumar said that the India was the largest producer of milk in the entire world and accounted for 16 percent of the total global production. He informed that the per capita supply of milk per day in Meghalaya was 83 grams which was very low as compared to the National average of 315 gm per capita. There is a shortage of about 1.65 lakh metric tonnes and there is an urgent need to triple the production to meet the current demand necessitated by the increase in purchasing power and lifestyle changes of the people, he added. Stating that the cattle reared in the State is primarily for meat and only 40 percent accounted for milk production he underlined the need for extra investment in the sector and provide the necessary training to equip the farmers with the necessary skill set to rear high yielding cross bred variety of cattle to increase milk production. He also informed that there were only three dairy processing units in the State and more processing units would be required to meet the increase in processing, necessitated by the increase in milk production by the farmers.

Others present in at the function were Shri P.T. Sawkmie, MLA Mawlai Constituency, Shri George B. Lyngdoh, MLA Umroi, Shri Adelbert Nongrum, MLA North Shillong, students and officials who came from different parts of the State.