Japan ties-up with Meghalaya to develop Shiitake variety
SHILLONG: The department of Agriculture has officially launched the Meghalaya Mushroom Mission at a function held at the Secretariat on Thursday.
The function was chaired by Additional Chief Secretary K.N.Kumar in-charge Agriculture department.
Sber Majaw (95) from Lawsohtun was invited as the chief guest at the function.
Colonel Ranjit Singh, authorised representative of Yats Corporation Company Ltd., Japan, representatives from the Hills Farmers’ Union (HFU) and key department officials were also present.
The Meghalaya Mushroom Mission is a five year mission with a budget of 62.37 crore out of which Rs 4 crore is earmarked for production and cultivation of Shiitake mushroom.
The main objectives of the mission is to scale up mushroom production and productivity in the state from the current year production figure of 27 metric tonnes per annum to 5000 metric tonnes at the end of five years.
The mission is expected to cover 1000 mushroom farmers and entrepreneurs through a cluster based approach. The mission will focus mainly on production of oyster mushroom, button mushroom and Shiitake mushroom in the seven districts comprising villages of East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi, South West Khasi Hills, East Jaintia Hills, West Jaintia Hills and West Garo Hills.
The function also witnessed the signing of a tripartite MoU between the Department of Agriculture, represented by M.N.Nampui, Secretary Agriculture, Yats Corporation Company Ltd. Japan represented by Col. Singh and HFU represented by its general secretary Allfondbirth Kharsyntiew.
Yats Corporation Company Ltd, Japan is a leading global producer of organic Shiitake mushrooms and it will provide technical assistance and technology transfer relating to promotion, expansion of mushroom cultivation, capacity building, training and entrepreneurship development, marketing and buy back arrangement, value addition and processing.