Lemongrass plantation
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR
Imphal, June 03 2020:
Textiles, Commerce and Industry Minister Thongam Biswajit Singh, who also holds the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj portfolio today chaired a meeting of the two departments to discuss convergence between Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and Micro Small Medium Enterprises - Cluster Development Programme for plantation and processing of lemongrass and citronella in the State.
Biswajit said that the MGNREGS is a wage oriented scheme and several individual and group beneficiary livelihood improvement activities will be taken up under Animal Husbandry, Horticulture, Housing, Fisheries, Sericulture Departments while saying that the plantation of lemon grass and citronella will be done in convergence with the Industries Department under the MGNREGS from this year.
The project will be undertaken as a component of the MGNREGS and Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj will procure the saplings and provide them to the job-card holders.
Necessary training will be conducted under the Industry Department.
It was also decided that the Manipur Food Industries Corporation Limited (MFICL) will provide a buy-back policy for the products from the job-card holders.
Biswajit instructed officials concerned of the valley districts to identify suitable sites for the plantation and said that since there is vast availability of land in the hill districts, concerned officials should invite all MGNREGS beneficiaries to take part in project.
Meanwhile, Managing Director MFICL Peter Salam said lemon grass extracts can be used in production of perfumes and green tea, while citronella extracts! can be used in production of disinfectants and mosquito repellents.
Today's meeting was also attended by Dr Suhel Akhtar, Addl Chief Secretary (RDPR), Devesh Dewal, Commissioner (TCI), DCs, DPCs and officials of both Departments.