https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Meghalaya To Produce Big Bucks from Buckwheat soon

Meghalaya might soon become a leading exporter of buckwheat in the country. Meghalaya Farmers’ (Empowerment) Commission chairman, IAS officer K N Kumar, wishes to cover 1000 acres of land under buckwheat cultivation within three years. Due to his efforts, the farmer’s income is expected to grow twofold soon.
Indian Masterminds Stories

In a bid to help the farmers of the state grow and induce a substantial increase in their income, the Meghalaya Government is coming forward with its plan to expand buckwheat cultivation in the state. They plan to expand it to over 1000 acres in the next few years, as the land and weather conditions of Meghalaya are appropriate for growing the cash crop.

In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, Meghalaya Farmers’ (Empowerment) Commission chairman K N Kumar, IAS, spoke about the plan and how it will prove to be beneficial in the years to come.

SUITABLE ATMOSPHERE

Influenced by the southwest monsoon and the northeast winter winds, the humid climate of Meghalaya is considered appropriate to grow cash crops such as buckwheat. The Krishi Vigyan Kendra of the state of Meghalaya figured out at least two seasons when buckwheat plantation would flourish.

“Initially, we tried buckwheat plantation in just four acres of land. The yield was satisfactory and sold out. So then, we planned to expand its cultivation to 100 acres. Within one year, we were able to do that successfully. Now, my target is to cover 1000 acres within the next three years,” Mr. Kumar told Indian Masterminds.

GOOD YIELDS THROUGHOUT

The completion of Mr. Kumar’s goal will depend on a lot of factors such as the yield, market conditions, demand-supply, etc. Once the officer and his team analyze the entire situation and acquire data and statistics related to the yields produced in different areas, they will be in a position to take it forward to the next level.

“Cash crops can easily be taken up in Meghalaya. Due to seasons, their growth may vary, at times, but broadly, cash crops produce very good yields throughout the year. Using 1 kilogram of seed may easily give us 20 kilograms of yields, which is the best thing so far,” stated Mr. Kumar.

ORGANIC YIELDS

All the crops in Meghalaya are grown without using any chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or harmful elements. They are grown purely in an organic manner resulting in 20 times the usual commercial yield. However, it might vary from farmer to farmer relating to their managerial techniques, due to season, weather conditions, amount of sunlight, etc.

“If we can maintain this 20x ratio while going for 1000 acres of cultivation, we may get enormously favorable yields,” shared Mr. Kumar.

EXTRACTING HONEY FROM BUCKWHEAT

Buckwheat is a profusely flowering plant that attracts honey bees naturally. Buckwheat honey is extremely rare and valuable, making it quite expensive. Currently, it is not available anywhere in India. It exists in the global market and is imported from there.

When honeybees predominantly acquire nectar from one particular plant, it is referred to as monofloral honey, which is extremely valuable in the market because of certain characteristics, such as its medicinal and nutritional properties.

“Buckwheat and its following production of monofloral honey will be beneficial and increase the farmer’s income by twofold. Because of its gluten-free nature, it is extremely good for diabetic and pre-diabetic people and can be consumed as a superfood. It can be a substitute for wheat, which increases its demand automatically,” shared Mr. Kumar.

ENTERING THE EXPORT MARKET

Due to the ongoing Ukraine-Russian war, that happened between the two countries that were the biggest producers of buckwheat in the world, there is now a shortage of it in the market. Countries like Japan have a high demand for buckwheat as they are the biggest importers of buckwheat in the world and now, they will incline toward India for their supply. 

“The Japanese High Commissioner met us in Shillong and we had a word with him related to our willingness of supplying them with buckwheat. They are considering it. Once it becomes an export-oriented commodity, then many things will change for the better,” he told Indian Masterminds. 

He further added, “Regarding honey, since it will be monofloral and will also become an export-oriented substance, the chances of a twofold increase in the farmer’s income are very high.”

INCREASING MANPOWER

Presently, around 100 farmers are involved in the cultivation, production, and exportation. Mr. Kumar is planning to increase them to 2000 farmers, in the next three years.

“Once the volume of the project increases, the number of farmers increases, and the stakeholders also increases, we will become a leading player of buckwheat in the entire country. We have already signed a memorandum with a Bangladeshi importer who wished to acquire around 1,000 metric tonnes of buckwheat,” shared the officer.

Furthermore, several local people wish to get into the export business and the officer is actively working on felicitating that. 

CHALLENGES FACED

The only challenge that the farmers are facing is to grind the buckwheat with limited impurities since it is originally very grainy in nature and is difficult to convert into powder because of that.

“We don’t have a tabletop machine that can do the grinding work, as of now. We are trying to sort out this problem as much as we can,” stated Mr. Kumar

Buckwheat and monofloral honey cultivation may soon change the exporting game for the country, in the years to come. And the entire credit for this would go to the Meghalaya Government, the farmers of the state, and Mr. KN Kumar himself.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Hindustan Shipyard Limited HSL
PESB Declines to Recommend CMD for Hindustan Shipyard; Ministry May Extend Current Chief’s Tenure
IAS Ajitabh Sharma
“80% of Time Spent on Non-Core Tasks”: Rajasthan Principal Secretary Ajitabh Sharma Questions IAS Work Culture, Calls for Reform
Nitin Gadkari
India to Become Net Energy Exporter in 6-7 Years, Highlights Hydrogen and Biofuels: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari
Bank of India - BOI
Bank of India Plans to Raise Rs 20,000 Crore via Infrastructure Bonds in FY 2025-26
BEML Limited
For Operational Excellence, BEML Lays Foundation of State-of-the-Art Central Warehousing Centre in Bilaspur
rec-logo
Green Energy Boost: REC Forms New Subsidiary for 3GW Ananthapuram-II REZ Transmission Project
Bhupendra Patel CM Gujarat
CM Bhupendra Patel’s Pro-People Move: Uniform House Tax of ₹200 Annually for Rural Government-Assisted Homes in Gujarat
CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar: Gaya to Become Bihar’s Largest Industrial Township Under AKIC; ₹16,524 Cr Investment Expected
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-25 at 5.07
Why Has the DGCA Fined Air India Rs 5 Crore Since Privatisation?
Former Diplomat Ashok Sajjanhar
Iran Is Weakest Now, Needs a Face-Saver
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-23 at 12.39
Retired Officers Lead 7-Day Mission to Revive Betwa River with 55 Check Dams | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Sanish Kumar Singh
“If you want it badly enough, you’ll find a way,” Sanish Kumar Singh AIR 8, UPSC IFS 2024 
The real interview, he says, was much more humane. “The board was conversational. The chairman opened...
Raju Wagh
When the Battlefield Became a Study Room and a Dream Took Flight
Amid IED blasts and anti-Maoist operations in Bastar, CRPF Commando Raju Wagh taught village kids, studied...
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-18 at 10.31
"I Just Wanted to Breathe Again": The Man Who Fought Death and Made It to UPSC
Struck by COVID at the peak of his UPSC prep, Devanand Telgote spent months on ECMO, unsure he'd live,...
Social Media
Shailaja Chandra
“Nanis & Dadis Have a Brain”: Former IAS Officer Shailaja Chandra Weighs in on 1970s vs 2025 Life Debate - “This Generation Has It Better”
Responding to Viral Post on Middle-Class Struggles, Ex-Bureaucrat Offers Candid Reflection on Then and...
Tigress Arrowhead
The End of an Era: A Queen Falls - Ranthambore’s Iconic Tigress Arrowhead (T-84) Passes Away at 14, Hours After Daughter’s Relocation
Ranthambore mourns the loss of one of its fiercest and most beloved tigers, Arrowhead, the granddaughter...
Screenshot 2025-06-13 194001
Wild Elephant Disrupts Riverside Picnic, Sparks Debate on Human Encroachment; IFS Parveen Kumar Shares the Video - Watch Here!
Mr. Kaswan used the viral video, which has garnered over 1.5 lakh views, to highlight the risks of human...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Hindustan Shipyard Limited HSL
PESB Declines to Recommend CMD for Hindustan Shipyard; Ministry May Extend Current Chief’s Tenure
IAS Ajitabh Sharma
“80% of Time Spent on Non-Core Tasks”: Rajasthan Principal Secretary Ajitabh Sharma Questions IAS Work Culture, Calls for Reform
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-25 at 5.07
Former Diplomat Ashok Sajjanhar
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-23 at 12.39
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT