Guwahati: Conrad Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya, is betting big on jackfruit cultivation in the state. Sangma, who attended Wharton University, now intends to increase the yearly output of jackfruit in his state from Rs 400 crore to Rs 1000 crore.

Sangma, who is searching for methods to supplement the state's income, aims to encourage jackfruit growing in the Garo Hills region for sustainable and equitable socio-economic development of the rural people.

"We are considering developing a value chain for jackfruit goods in order to provide jobs for jobless kids." "The commercialization of its processing and value addition, the development of markets for jackfruit and its value-added products through a targeted and professional approach," Sangma told Business NorthEast.

Notably, Sangma inaugurated the Jackfruit Mela 2022 in Tura which is being organized by the district horticulture office, of West Garo Hills

Meghalaya government launched Misson Jackfruit in 2022 and the programme is being implemented across the state by the Directorate of Food Processing.

“We have chosen the Garo Hills region due to its favourable tropical climatic conditions for jackfruit cultivation. Farmer Farmers from Garo Hills should take advantage of the different programmes initiated by the Government under the Jackfruit Mission”, Sangma said.

In fact, in order to take the concept and awareness about Jackfruit value addition to the masses a concept of village level, Go mobile awareness has already been launched. A total of 585 batches of 100 farmers are targeted in two years which will enable the mission to reach upto 58,000 farmers.

For packaging, branding, and marketing the mission will be making significant investments in the creation of the jackfruit brand, informed Sangma.

The Mission will also cover Self Help Groups entrepreneurs, functioning cooperatives societies, farmers' interest groups in 10 jackfruit clusters encompassing 822 villages in the first phase.

It may be mentioned here that jackfruit is grown in the mid-altitude areas of Meghalaya such as in the whole Garo Hills Region, Southern slopes of East Khasi Hills, parts of Jaintia and Ri Bhoi district with lions share coming from Garo Hills where nearly each and every house on an average has five trees.