Mendipathar, Aug 14: The biggest mushroom plant in the North East has sprouted in the Garo Hills with Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday opening its facility in Mendipathar, North Garo Hills where the Indian Railways has played a crucial role in the industrilization of the Special Economic Zone of Garo Hills.
“Railways connectivity has played a major role in the recent setting up of global giant beverage Corporation PepsiCo in the Mendipathar industrilization region. We are also in talks with pharmaceutical units to have their plants in the state, particularly in Ri-bhoi but faced land constraints and so they are now looking at Mendipathar for the establishment of a plant,” announced Conrad Sangma.
The mushroom facility has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 10 crores, and the product will be dried, powdered, and packaged and branded for export in the facility.
The project is being implemented by the Mendipathar Multipurpose Cooperative Society, led by Sister Rose, and is funded by the SFRUTI scheme from MSME, with viability gap funding of Rs. 3 crore from the state.
Conrsd Sangma said that demand for mushrooms is increasing worldwide, and the establishment of such a unit will be rewarding for farmers. He stated that the government has been initiating various programs to support farmers.
Encouraging farmers to take up mushroom cultivation, he said the government will provide training and support to interested individuals and organizations.
During the program, he also flagged off pickup vehicles and barrels that will be used to collect rubber. He noted that the North and East Garo Hills region is engaged in large-scale rubber production, and the government will support value addition, enabling farmers to earn higher incomes.
A rubber Cinx Unit was also allocated to the Mendipathar Multipurpose Cooperative Society.
Mentionably, Meghalaya has earmarked Rs. 62.37 crore for the Mushroom Mission.
Importance of Farming missions
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma hailed the success of the newly launched Jackfruit process plant in the Siju-Rongara block where chips made out of jackfruit with natural fibre has been selling under the brand name Awang Chips.
Likewise, In Tikrikilla, a major plant producing ice cream under the brand “Nokma Ice-Cream” has become a market leader.
The mushroom cultivation project is aimed at meeting the demand for mushroom in metros and towns across India, and even abroad, especially japan and other nations.
“If we can process and package our commodities well, we can achieve success. Around Rs 300 crore has been invested in the pepsi plant and we expect 2025 to begin production. This will be the biggest private project in Garo Hills. And this plant will also produce fruit juice such as pineapple oranges etc,” says the chief minister as he mentioned the ongoing construction of the longest bridge over the Brahmaputra river connecting Phulbari with Dhubri which will further accelerate the economic growth of the entire Garo Hills region.
