Shillong: Chief Minister Mukul M Sangma has encouraged the cultivation of spices in Garo Hills as an alternate means of cultivation and livelihood.
Attending the promotion of black pepper cultivation at Rongjeng Government Aided Higher Secondary School, East Garo Hills, organized by District Horticulture Officer, East Garo Hills Williamnagar, Mukul said the cultivation of spices will enhance livelihood opportunities in the rural areas.
Pointing out that spices like pepper, cinnamon and cardamom are used for cooking and medicinal purposes all over the world, resilient means of livelihood infused with scientific approach will bring in higher returns to cultivators and also reverse the ill effects of climatic change as planting of certain condiments like pepper also increases the vegetative cover.
Urging the villagers to start the cultivation of spices in a humble way he said the cultivation of pepper known to be king of spices, is highly profitable with India being the largest exporter of black pepper.
He also said that black pepper cultivation is inter cropping with the focus being the tree of the crop like coconut and areca nut tree both of which are grown extensively in Garo Hills.
Saplings of high yielding varieties of black pepper were distributed to 84 villages.
