SHILLONG, NOV 29: The Meghalaya government in collaboration with Indian Chamber of Commerce organised the PISKOT FESTIVAL 2014 on November 29 at Meghalaya House, Kolkata. The festival focused on the promotion of the Excotic Vegetable Piskot from the Meghalaya.
The Meghalaya government also displayed the other agriculture & horticulture and sericultural products of Meghalaya during the festival.
Meghalaya rural development minister P Tynsong inaugurated the festival in presence of state community and rural development principal secretary KN Kumar, state agriculuture and horti-culture deparment principal secretary P Kharkongor, West Bengal horticulture deparment director Dr PK Pramanick, Director & MCS State Institute of Rural Development T Lyngwa, , regional head of APEDA CB Singh, and Value Addition of Piskot & Ex Scientist, National Chemical Laboratory expert Dr Nene, and hundreds of participants.
While inaugurating the Piskot Festival, Tynsong focused and emphasized on the Piskot Mission. He said “Government of Meghalaya is going to undertake the Piskot Mission mode where government will come up with certain schemes and policies in Piskot focusing on the major stakeholders of Piskot including – Growers, Sellers, Buyers & Consumers.
Tynsong informed that under this mission the government will ensure proper guidance assistance and support – financially and technically to the growers and entrepreneurs interested in setting up of processing and value addition units for Piskot in Meghalaya.
Tynsong also said the Meghalaya government will ensure higher production with better quality to meet the domestic & international standard and demand. The government will ensure for the better price for the farmers in long run and will promote the Piskot in major way with many more Piskot Festivals in Kolkata and other part of the countries, he assured.
Earlier State Institute of Rural Development –SIRD- deputy director B Rumnong welcomed the investors, entrepreneurs and visitors from Kolkata, growers and entrepreneurs from Meghalaya to the Piskot Festival and highlighted the importance of festival to promote the Piskot and it delicacies to the attendees.
In his key not Meghalaya C & D department principal secretary KN Kumar talked on promotion of Piskot consumption in West Bengal and other parts of the country and the need to generate more awareness about the Piskot.
Kumar said Meghalaya is producing the highest quantity of Piskot in the country with around 50000 MT of production every year without any government schemes, subsidies or support to the farmers. He also highlighted that with the proper support and funding from state government the Piskot production can be raised to more 100000 MT which will meet the future demand for Piskot in domestic and international market.
Ex Scientist of National Chemical Laboratories and Subject Expert in Piskot Dr Nene highlighted the various health benefits to the consumers and how one can give value addition to Piskot. He said this will not only benefit the consumer with better health diet but also will generate the awareness about the product amongst the mass.
Dr Nene also revealed the grant has been provided to the State Institute of Rural Development, Government of Meghalaya by the Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries, towards the Research and Development on Value Addition of Piskot. He said this will gradually help to create a better market and generate better price to the Piskot farmers and growers.
APEDE regional head Dr C B Singh focused on the supply chain, transportation, shelf-life and storage infrastructure to be created for Piskot in West Bengal. He requested for the assistance from Government of Meghalaya towards the procurement and logistics of the Piskot from Meghalaya to Kolkata and creation of the storage capacity near Kolkata for better connectivity with the domestic & international Market.
State Agriculture & Horticulture principal secretary P Kharkongor highlighted the major concern with regard to deforestation and ecological degradation which gradually is increasing in state of Meghalaya as well. He emphasized on encouraging the farmers to take more Eco Friendly practices to produce not only Piskot but other horticulture products as well to generate the ready cash & better price for the same.
West Bengal director of horticulture Dr P K Pramanick said North Bengal and Siliguri is the ideal place for Meghalaya government to promote and transport the Piskot in northern part of the country as climatic condition is favorable for Piskot from Meghalaya, close proximity to Bagdogra airport, roads & other infrastructure are very good to connect with the states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi and presence of CPC at Siliguri will be an added advantage.
He highlighted that the Piskot is selling in many big food retail outlets at very high price and policies & strategies are needed to be formulated and generate better price for the Piskot growers from Meghalaya and also reduce the price for the consumers. He requested Meghalaya government to introduce the geographical indication for varieties of Piskot from Meghalaya which will help to promote the trade and consumption of Piskot in Kolkata and North Indian market at better price.
Meghalaya SIRD director T Lyngwa gave the vote of thanks .
A business session was conducted by the Meghalaya government officials with the exporters & entrepreneurs from Kolkata. The Festival had also arrangement to entertain visitors with the musical performance by famous singer and musician Lou Majaw.
The Meghalaya government said the festival witnessed a huge footfall from the exporters, entrepreneurs, growers, traders and consumers from Kolkata and other parts of West Bengal. The Festival will lead to the better trade and business relation between the two state governments and corporate which will be beneficial for the entire Agriculture Community of the country. – By Our Reporter
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