Piskot finally get its share of fame

SHILLONG, SEPT 10: Long neglected, Piskot or Chowchow popularly called the poor man’s  potato, got all the attention it deserved by holding centre stage at the first ever ‘Piskot Festival’ held on Wednesday at the All Saint Hall. The festival was inaugurated by Meghalaya chief secretary PBO Warjri

The  State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD) in collaboration with the Agriculture department and Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA) gave Piskot its due by organizing the festival and adding value to this vegetable, which according to research studies have lots of vitamins and minerals.

The first ever  ‘Piskot Festival’ was organized to promote entrepreneurship and value addition of the vegetable. Piskot, commonly known as squash and grows abundantly across the state, was never feted as much as today.

Varieties of piskot produced by farmers from different parts of the state including East Khasi hills district and Garo hills region were on-display at this unique and one of its kind festival.

Piskot mostly grown during the monsoon season,  is produced in Garo hills which are big and greenish in colour while the ones brought from Mylliem are not commonly seen in the market which the farmers named it as thorny Piskot Shiah.

“The department has sent sample of some of the piskot grown in the state to a Pune-based National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) where it was found that there are lots of vitamins and minerals in this vegetables,”  Director of SIRD T Lyngwa told reporters at the sideline of the festival.

Lyngwa informed equipped with this information, the Meghalaya government decided to sensitize the farmers and entrepreneurs about the potentialities that this vegetable has. According to him, at present farmers are selling the vegetable at a very low price compared to Mumbai which is Rs 120 per kg.

Lyngwa, however,  said the quantity of Piskot the state produce is yet to be official collected. But he added, “ The production is very high and we have surplus supply where local farmers are even exporting the vegetable outside the state because of demand that it has.”.

Lyngwa informed that the SIRD has also rope in business companies from Kolkata on how to create a market opportunity for this vegetable produced from Meghalaya which will also encourage local farmers to be partners.

Former chief scientist of NCL Dr Sanjay Nene revealed that the Piskot grown in Meghalaya has got B12 vitamin which he said people in India are lacking. The discovery of the health potential of this vegetable was made only four months ago, he said.

According to Nene, there are around 84 varieties of Chow-chow listed by the ICAR. He said the vegetable fruit has got B12 vitamin which is not commonly found in other vegetables and with this we are planning to pattern it for the state.

Nene also revealed that SIRD is also trying to give value addition to this fruit which is sold at very less price by developing a market for it.” Pointing out that Meghalaya has tremendous potential in growing this fruit, Nene suggested the need for state government to create a brand by developing a market, strategy for prospective buyers and others.”

Nene was of the opinion entrepreneurs are required to be encouraged for pitching up Piskot and also create a price that will ensure the farmers are benefited more.

Nene informed that around 4000 tons of Piskot was produced only from a cluster in West Khasi hills district adding the production level can only be determined by how much land is available to grow this fruit.

The scientist said around 14000 tons of Piskot can be produced in an area of 1000 acre.