Shillong, Feb 17: In an effort to propagate knowledge and awareness on buckwheat as a superfood, the Meghalaya Farmers’ (Empowerment) Commission (MFEC) on Thursday organised a ‘Farmer Orientation Workshop on Buckwheat in Meghalaya’ in the hall of the Moreau Institute of Integral Training and Research Society (MIIT), Laitumkhrah, Shillong.
Held in collaboration with the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), East Khasi Hills, Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, the workshop was attended by personnel of the KVKs and Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) of the Khasi, Jaintia Hills and Ri-Bhoi districts, accompanied by progressive farmers, known as Farmer Friends, of all the blocks of the seven districts.
The workshop which was presided over by chairman of MFEC, KN Kumar highlighted in length the various facets and prospects of buckwheat farming, such as its nutritive status, its suitability as a supplementary income generating crop and its potential as a low cost, nutritious food crop.
It may be noted that the combined pioneering efforts of MFEC and former Director of Agriculture, L Kharkrang in the area of buckwheat cultivation has resulted in considerable awareness around the food crop including this farmer’s workshop.
In view of the emerging demand for buckwheat, the workshop aimed at upscaling buckwheat cultivation from 4 acres to 1000 acres over the next 3 to 4 years.