Mendipathar coop society’s latex unit sets an example
Meghtex Rubber is the first natural centrifuged latex producer in the NE; the coop is supporting hundreds of rubber tree growers in state
The Mendipathar Multipurpose Cooperative Society (MMCS) started in 1998, aiming to help rural rubber growers in Mendipathar and the adjacent villages earn better income. Most of the rubber growers in the East and North Garo Hills villages would be victims of middlemen, who took away the lion’s share of the earnings, leaving a paltry amount for the villagers.
Three decades on, the cooperative society has strengthened its foothold and diversified its activities to transform the socio-economic condition of the farmers in the region. Now, its new unit has become the first in the region to produce centrifuged latex.
Rubber-related projects
The society has started Meghtex Rubbers, a latex collection centre, at Chidimit, 30 km enroute to Songsak from Resubelpara. This centre is located in a large area where a beautiful office and the stockyard are located.
The stockyard is dotted with natural rubber centrifuged latex processing drums. These are stocked before being supplied to clients in Assam, Haryana, Rajasthan, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh, among other states.
Another latex collection centre has been set up at Koksi Nengsat in collaboration with Kerala’s Kottayam Thomson Rubbers India Pvt. Ltd. This centre will process dry natural latex to make it centrifuge properly. This will help rubber growers save the production cost of making raw rubber sheets. The process will also save labour costs and time.
Rubber growers from Ri Bhoi and other areas can also sell latex here at Rs 160, or the national price of rubber latex. This centrifuged latex is used for making balloons, gloves, threads, condoms and mats, among others.
Meghtex Rubber is the first natural centrifuged latex producer in the North East.
Other ventures
MMCS is also taking up other projects, besides rubber units. It has already started cow farming, piggery, poultry, mushroom cultivation and processing and vegetable farming. It has strengthened these activities by imparting skills among farmers from various villages of the Garo Hills.
MMSC is also constructing a fruit dehydration factory near Chidimit Latex Collection Centre. The work started in January 2026 and is expected to be functional by the end of this year.
The Fruit Dehydration factory input will be approximately 60,000 MT, and the output will vary from 20 MT and above, depending on market demand, as it has the provision to scale capacity.
Fruits like bananas, starfruit, jackfruit, dragon fruit, pineapples, mangoes, oranges, etc. will be sourced from the villages. The unit is expected to provide nearly 200 jobs.
MMCS has proved to be a model cooperative society that has not only grown in its diverse endeavours but has also created numerous jobs, especially in the Garo Hills region. Now, the society is considering the promotion of tourism in the region, and it has the support of local villagers.
