Farmers Get Training on Profitable Buckwheat Cultivation

The Meghalaya Farmers' Empowerment Commission (MFEC) held a 'Farmer Orientation Workshop on Buckwheat in Meghalaya' on Thursday in the hall of the Moreau Institute of Integral Training and Research Society (MIIT), Laitumkhrah, Shillong, in an attempt to spread knowledge and understanding about buckwheat as a superfood.

The workshop was conducted in collaborative efforts with the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), East Khasi Hills, Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, and was joined by personnel from the KVKs and Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) of the Khasi, Jaintia Hills, and Ri-Bhoi districts, as well as progressive farmers from all seven districts, referred to as Farmer Friends.

The workshop, which was led by MFEC Chairman KN Kumar, covered a wide range of aspects and possibilities of buckwheat farming, including its nutritional quality, suitability as a supplementary income crop, and promise as a low-cost, highly nutritious crop.

It should be emphasized that the pioneering efforts of MFEC and previous Director of Agriculture L Kharkrang in the field of buckwheat farming have resulted in a significant understanding of the food crop.

Given the growing need for buckwheat, the workshop sought to increase buckwheat cultivation from 4 acres to 1000 acres over the following three to four years.

About Buckwheat Cultivation

Buckwheat is a Polygonaceae family herbaceous plant with edible seeds. Buckwheat or common buckwheat is a plant used for its grain-like seeds and as a cover crop. Buckwheat is noteworthy for being a short-season crop that matures in 10 to 12 weeks and requires just moderate soil fertility.

Buckwheat is a simple plant that provides several benefits to farmers as an income source and the environment as a cover crop. With so many advantages, it is an excellent crop to include in any spring planting preparations if you live in an area where it will grow.