MEGHALAYA GOVERNOR SINGS STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER...!

“Let me take you down, ‘cause I’m going to the strawberry field'…" Meghalaya Governor, Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary seems to be humming this legendary Beatles song these days on his way to his Strawberry fields at the Raj Bhavan.

 

Mooshahary, the former chief of the National Security Guard and Border Security Force, who led many operations against the bad guys revealed the softer side of his personality and said he has been farming the “fruit of love” at the Raj Bhavan for sometimes now.

Mooshahary, who was speaking at the Strawberry festival held annually by the Meghalaya horticulture department and the Ri-Bhoi Strawberry Growers’ Association, said he has managed to farm at least 100 kg of Strawberry at the Raj Bhavan fields. The Governor said that the amorous fruit is not just economically viable, but also has tremendous health benefits.

In terms of nutrition, Strawberry has some of the essential vitamins needed for good health. The fruit is an excellent source of Vitamin C and energy.

As part of Meghalaya’s horticulture development programme, Strawberry cultivation has been given tremendous support by the State Government.

The cultivation of the fruit was introduced as a pilot project in Ri-Bhoi district and is now a major agro industry for some of the growers in the State. Currently, Meghalaya is the largest producer of Strawberry in the Northeast.

Mooshahary said the Government’s effort to promote the cultivation of the fruit is laudable. “Growing Strawberry should not be viewed from the commercial angle alone, but also from the health aspect as it contains lots of nutritional properties,” he said.

 

He said growing Strawberry has definitely improved the economic standard of the farmers in the State. "Cultivating Strawberry cultivation has contributed to the welfare of the people,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the annual strawberry festival has become  a tourist attraction and also provides a platform  for the farmers to interact directly with the buyers. C Rangad, Director of Horticulture said, some of the farmers in Ri-Bhoi were earning substantially due to the huge demand for the fruit, which has been steadily growing over the years.