Kolkata: The Meghalaya government will write to the West Bengal government requesting for land near the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport to build a integrated packhouse with storage capacity for the export of Piskot, a vegetable highly nutritious and rich in minerals.
Principal Secretary, Community and Rural Development Department, Government of Meghalaya K N Kumar said here on Tuesday that the NSCBI airprot served the purpose being the only international airport close to Meghalaya.
“It has connectivity to the entire globe unlike Guwahati which is close to the countries in the eastern side. But for us the real target is the western side,” Kumar reasoned.
The Meghalaya government along with the Indian Chamber of Commerce organised a conclave on exploring the market potential and value addition of Piskot here at the Meghalaya House on Tuesday.
Meghalaya Minister for Rural Development P Tynsong along with top level officials of the government attended the conclave.
The Agricultural and Processed Food Product Export Development Authority under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry will provide a grant of upto 90 per cent to the Meghalaya government for building infrastructure of the proposed integrated packhouse which would be used as a storage.
“Besides 90 per cent subsidy for the infrastructure of the packhouse, APEDA will also provide all assistance for the export of agricultural commodities under to other parts of the country and the international market,” APEDA Assistant General Manager Dr C B Singh said.
Kumar said that 50,000 tonnes of Piskot could be grown per annum in Meghalaya, but lack of market demand would result in around 20 to 30 per cent wastage. Piskot contains Vitamins A and C, Carbohydrates, Fats and minerals and its seeds are rich in amino acids.
It’s leaves and tendrils are known to have diuretic properties to flush out kidney stones and the Potassium content help in strengthening bones and muscles.
“The potential of the vegetable has been identified recently but a proper survey was yet to be done. Presently around 10,000 farmers are growing Piskot in Meghalaya with an annual income of over Rs 35 crore that also without any help of the state agriculture department,” Kumar said.
The state government would hold a Piskot festival in Kolkata in November last to showcase the potential of the vegetable, popular as Chow Chow or Squash. Last month, a Piskot festival was held in Shillong. (PTI)