SHILLONG, FEB 20: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday said that the government will examine the proposal for coming up with a minimum support price for arecanut.
In his reply, Sangma said that the value of processed arecanut sell almost 10 times the price adding
UDP legislator from Amlarem Lahkmen Rymbui had requested the state government to consider coming up with a minimum support price for arecanut.
Rymbui said that the price of arecanut has come down drastically and this has led to more production but less income to the farmers.
He said a notification issued by the Government of India in 2020 fixing the minimum support price for arecanut at Rs 200.
Rymbui requested the government to consider setting up processing unit in Amlarem to promote arecanut production and mareketing.
Sangma informed that two out of 46 processing units have been set up in Amlarem. He said close to Rs 41 lakh investment has been made apart from Rs 1 crore, which was already made.
Earlier in her reply, Minister in-charge Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Ampareen Lyngdoh said 46 processing units consistng of working shed, de-husking machines, solar tunnel dryers and soaked pits are being set up across 21 blocks in 10 districts. Total cost of these is Rs 14.06 crore.
34 units have been completed and the remaining 12 units will be completed in the coming months.
She said 10 lakh interest free working capital loan for aggregation and marketing of arecanut has been given to each of the 46 cooperatives.