Entrepreneurs seek efficient Chak-hao consortium
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 03 2024:
Administrative inefficiency of the Consortium of Chak-hao Growers, which was formed under the initiative of the state agriculture department, has severely affected entrepreneurs who are trading in indigenous Chak-hao, stated Economic and Resource Development Organisation, Manipur secretary N Shanta and stressed the urgent need for reforming the consortium so as to ensure its proper functioning.
Addressing media persons at Manipur Press Club, here, on Wednesday, N Shanta said that indigenous Chak-hao, also known as black rice, has got Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
As per instruction of authority, owner of GI tagged Chak-hao of Manipur has to be either growers or association and accordingly the Consortium of Chak-hao Growers was formed by the agriculture department.
However, the consortium formed with 20 members, mainly farmers, remains non functional for the past 4/5 months, he said.
According to N Shanta, there are around 10-15 entrepreneurs trading in Chak-hao with investment of huge amount of money.
One key point mentioned in the regulation for formation of consortium was that owner of GI tagged Chak-hao will be the consortium itself and the state government is supposed to invest Rs 10 lakh for maintaining purity of Chak-hao.
The job of the agriculture department is to provide quality and unadulterated Chak-hao seeds to farmers in coordination with ICAR.
When entrepreneurs collect Chak-hao from farmers, it is mandatory to issue NOC to ascertain purity for Which a committee under the consortium is formed.
However, entrepreneurs could not get the NOC when they collect Chak-hao from farmers mainly due to inefficiency of the consortium, Shanta alleged, adding that this indeed is discouragement of entrepreneurs who are trying to improve economy of the state by exporting GI tagged Chak-hao.
Stressing the need for reforming the non-functional consortium by removing inactive members, Shanta said that entrepreneurs 'should be made members of the consortium.