March 5, Shillong: In a significant step to promote sustainable and income-generating agricultural practices, the Government of Meghalaya, today, inaugurated the Shiitake Mushroom Production and Training Centre in Upper Shillong.
The ceremony was graced by the presence of Shri Conrad K Sangma, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Meghalaya, as the Chief Guest. Other dignitaries in attendance were, Dr. M Ampareen Lyngdoh, Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
Mr. Ronnie V Lyngdoh, MLA, Mylliem Constituency, SmtiIsawanda Laloo, IAS, Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department, Shri K. N. Kumar, IAS, Chairman, Meghalaya Farmers’ Empowerment Commission amongst others.
Speaking at the inauguration, Shri Conrad K Sangma, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Meghalaya, stated, “Our growth infrastructure has grown almost three times, we had rural roads of about close to 1695 kms in 2018, we had constructed more rural roads in the last five years leading to an increase to 4348 kms.
Similarly, if you look at water supply, from 4500 connections we have reached 485000 connections in a matter of three to four years’ time, even the expenditure we have where we spent 9000 crores in 2018, today our expenditure has touched 25000 crores in 5 years.
Hence, if you look in the last three years, we have spent over 700 crores to develop different value chains, infrastructures, processing plants, PRIME Hub centers, solar powered storage centers and cold storages, so on and so forth, for our farmers, so that the income of farmers can go up.
They realized that we should help farmers do what they are already doing and figure out how technological interventions and scientific approach, could improve and make things better. Before this programme started on 27 MT of mushrooms were being cultivated, but today after the government’s interventions we have 600 MT of mushrooms being cultivated.
Approximately 27 crores are what farmers are earning today from mushroom cultivation. Based on this technology that we have, we will be having at least three cycles of mushroom production, and roughly in every cycle the farmer can earn upto 1 lakh rupees in each cycle.
In a matter of three years’ time, from 27 crores where we are today, we could be crossing and touching about 117 crores in terms of revenue that farmers will earn by doing Shiitake mushroom plantation and selling the products.”
Dr. M Ampareen Lyngdoh, Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, emphasized the importance of such initiatives in empowering rural communities. She said, “This project’s MoU signed in 2019, between the farmers, the government, and the Yats Co. Ltd., has now borne fruit, and is a memorable day for us all as this project will be beneficial in many ways.
This is just one part of such a programme, soon the Meghalaya government, will also venture into floriculture, and in the initial year, we shall earmark Rs 41 crore to assist the farmers who can utilize their fields and lands in a much better manner.
They also need to provide the farmers with the knowledge of market access for the shiitake mushrooms. Shiitake mushrooms have commercial value. To enhance the farming trade, we need a pen and a garden hoe and hence we urge the youth that once you complete your graduation, do not be discouraged.
They want you to go back to your respective villages so that you can assist your parents in earning a livelihood.We have earmarked around Rs 62 crores for this project for the year 2024-2028 to open avenues for the farming community. We have also been able to produce around 200-300 MT of oyster mushrooms in our state in the few years since the mushroom mission came into place.
Smti Isawanda Laloo, Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, in her address said, “The mushroom mission” was launched in our state on the 5th of November 2018 by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Meghalaya, taking into consideration the huge potential mushroom cultivation in the state, the increase in the market demand and the huge profit in the remunerative prices that it offers to farmers.
Under the leadership and guidance of our Honorable Chief Minister, in the year 2019, a tripartite MOU was signed between the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department, the Yats Corporation Company Limited based in Japan, and the Hill Farmers’ Shiitake Mushroom Cooperative Society on the 30th of May 2019.
The Yats Corporation Company, who is our knowledge partner, is a premium Japanese technology company having 21 years of expertise and specialisation in the cultivation of mushrooms. This company, called the Shillong Shiitake Private Limited, will buy back the Shiitake mushrooms produced by the farmers.”
One of the mushroom cultivators, Lovinstar Kharbuli, said, “Starting with just 10 packets of spawn in 2018, our mushroom cultivation journey faced numerous challenges – from Covid-19 lockdowns disrupting production sales to contamination setbacks.
Despite setbacks, with family support, we persevered. Attending a training program, organised by the Department of Agriculture, in 2021 boosted our confidence, ultimately leading to expansion.
Today, with government subsidies and added value through processing, our Kharbuli Mushroom Farm is still thriving, producing 2,000 kgs annually. He was grateful for the support from various government agencies, including the Mushroom Development Centre.
