SHILLONG: Meghalaya honey has found market abroad but there is no proper marketing in its place of origin and visitors often find it difficult to buy the product.
Though the government claims that local honey is sold in major cities in the country, the irony is that many people, including locals, do not know from where to procure it.
During the two-day meeting of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, which is part of Niti Ayog, held in the city on Friday, the state government projected the potential of Meghalaya honey, which according to the planning department, is exported to countries like Singapore and Berlin. A presentation was made by the department during the meeting.
The chairman of the council, Bibek Debroy, was present in the meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Y Tsering.
After the meeting, the commissioner and secretary of planning department, D. Vijaykumar, said with the ongoing Apiculture Mission, there is an interest among farmers to concentrate on bee-keeping.
He said farmers can get Rs 600 for a kg of honey if it is properly marketed.
The official said besides exporting to foreign countries, the honey is sold in supermarkets in Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and other cities, besides May Fair hotels.
According to the official, while the production of honey in the state is 12,000 kg per year, the demand is 20 metric tonnes.
He said there was a suggestion in the meeting that on the national highways, suitable trees should be planted for honey bees.
In the past, Sohra and adjoining areas were known to be the hubs of honey production.
When pointed out that the tourists are unable to find Meghalaya honey in the city, the official admitted that there is a need to exhibit and put for sale Meghalaya products in shops or showrooms in the city.
Banana finds market in Bihar
Large quantities of bananas from North Garo Hills are exported to Gaya and other places in Bihar.
Vijaykumar said the potential of North Garo Hills in terms of banana cultivation was also highlighted during the meeting.
He said many cooperative societies of banana cultivators have come up in North Garo Hills.
Earlier, bananas from North Garo Hills were transported only to Siliguri but the new market is Bihar.
North Garo Hills alone produces 300 tonnes of banana and since the demand in Bihar is high, cultivators regularly export bananas.
The government also conveyed in the meeting on the benefits of Aquaculture Mission as from 4,000 metric tonnes of fish, the production has touched 12,000 metric tonnes.
A presentation on Mission Lakadong related to turmeric cultivation and Mission Jackfruit was also made in the meeting.
Unlocking NE potential
Vijaykumar said the meeting mainly focused on the initiative of Niti Ayog, ‘Unlocking the potential of North East’.
The purpose is to understand the potential of the states in the North East which can ultimately accelerate economic development.
The bottlenecks in the North East are poor marketing facilities for local products and lack of infrastructure.
He also said though the demand is high for certain products from Meghalaya, production is small.
