Shillong, May 27: Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma on Monday launched the Aroma Mission and also inaugurated the Processing Unit of Essential Oil at Byrwa in Ri Bhoi district.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that the Aroma Mission is a very important initiative of the State government that will create value to the available resources.

Stating that the GDP is the benchmark of economic growth of a nation or a state, it becomes all the more important for any government to think of overall development in all sectors so that the economy moves in a realistic and sustainable manner.

Terming agriculture and allied sectors a very important in the economy, he said that the government is ensuring that this primary sector gets its due returns and the farmers get the income and importance that they deserve.

He informed that products like broomsticks and bay leaves would now be categorized as ‘Agro Forestry products’ so that farmers can easily engage in the sale of these products.

He said that the people of the State have traditionally used the medicinal and aromatic plants available in the State for various ailments and diseases, he said that it is about time that the knowledge of the medicinal plants should be given to the rest of the world while ensuring that this indigenous knowledge and skill are protected and patented.

The Chief Minister also stated that though the State abounds in medicinal plants, but not much research was conducted, while urging institutions like the CSIR-CIMAP to conduct a research and document these plants.

In his address, Additional Chief Secretary and Agriculture Production Commissioner, K N Kumar informed that the mission is exclusively for the development of aromatic and medicinal plants of the State.

“Meghalaya has lots of cultivable wastelands where plantations of this kind can be encouraged. Lemon grass and citronella plants will be grown in areas of 50 acres covering 5 hectares in every district to meet the eventual target of 1000 hectares depending on the response of the farmers in the next four to five years.

He further informed that the mission of 18 crores is an end to end mission and plantations will be enhanced only when buyers are assured.

Later, the Chief Minister released the Aroma Mission document and inaugurated the Distillation unit.

Among others who were present include, Nongpoh MLA, Mayral Born Syiem, Umroi MLA, George B. Lyngdoh, Umsning MLA, Jason S. Mawlong, Director CSIR- CIMAP, Abdul Samat, P CEO MBDA, Sampat Kumar, and Deputy Commissioner, Ri Bhoi, R. M. Kurbah and other officials.