State exports 1 MT dry turmeric
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR
Imphal, August 25 2018:
The Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department today achieved yet another milestone as the department airlifted one metric tonne of dry turmeric to New Delhi.
The department had successfully exported one metric tonne (MT) of organic pineapples from the State in July this year.
NERAMAC (North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Ltd) under the Ministry of DoNER, Government of India in collaboration with the Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA) have procured five (5) MT organic dry turmeric and one MT black aromatic black rice (chak-hao) which will be airlifted gradually in the coming days.
MOMA under the aegis of the Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department has been working for the development of organic farmers of the State.
Addressing the media persons at his New Secretariat office, Horticulture and Soil Conservation Minister Th Shyamkumar said that the, airlifting of turmeric and black rice (chak-hao) was done under the strict supervision of the department officials.
He said the turmeric airlifted today has been bought by the buyers.,jn Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) who are foreign exporters.
Appreciating the officials for the achievement, Th Shyamkumar said the organic produces of the State will be exported to other States benefiting the farmers of the State.
This will help them (farmers) increase their income, he said.
K Debadutta Sharma, Project Director, MOMA said that 5,000 organic farmers of the State are engaged in cultivation of turmeric, ginger, pineapple, black aromatic rice, lemon, orange and king chilli (u-morok) since 2015-2016 .
He said that this is the third year of organic cultivation in the State under MOMA under the central scheme of Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCD-NER) launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Government of India.
He said the department will help all the organic farmers to find a market place for their produces which are in high demand in other States.
Opining mat the initiative taken by the NERAMAC and MOMA will surely motivate the organic farmers, he said that the dry turmeric was airlifted today as the fresh ones will attract more cargo charges and are perishable.
The department is planning to export organic produces of the State with proper packaging while maintaining quality check, he said.
Mangsatabam Imo Singh, Officer-In charge, NERAMAC said the organically certified dry turmeric was exported after e-auction at Rs 90 per kg while the black aromatic rice was exported at Rs 108 per kg to the buyers.
He informed that earlier they had e-auctioned 5.6 MT of black rice which has high demand in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.
One MT black rice will be exported soon from the State, he said.
Officials of Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department including JC Ramthanga, Principal Secretary and officials of NERAMAC also attended the press conference today.