Shillong: Meghalaya State Planning Board Co-Chairman Olan Sing Suin is championing the widespread adoption of azolla cultivation, citing its ability to bolster farmer incomes and reduce livestock feed expenses. Speaking at a workshop in Shillong, Suin highlighted the plant as a key innovation for sustainable agriculture that could improve long-term productivity across the state.
The workshop, hosted by the Meghalaya Farmers’ Empowerment Commission, aimed to develop a strategic plan for integrating azolla into local farming practices. Suin expressed strong support for the initiative, promising financial backing for pilot projects in his constituency. He noted that if these demonstrations succeed, the State Planning Board and the Agriculture Department may incorporate azolla cultivation into future government policy.
Commission Chairman P.S. Thangkhiew explained that the decision to focus on azolla followed three months of consultations across various districts. The Commission is now working to establish models specifically adapted to Meghalaya’s unique agricultural environment. The goal is to provide small-scale farmers with practical, cost-effective methods to improve their operations.
Senior scientist P. Kamalasanan Pillai provided a technical perspective, identifying azolla as a vital solution to the global shortage of livestock protein. He explained that as conventional feed sources struggle to meet rising demand, azolla offers a sustainable and nutritious alternative that supports both livestock rearing and soil enrichment.
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