Shillong, Mar 3: A two-day state-level workshop on ‘Promotion of Climate Resilience and Green Livelihoods in Meghalaya’ was organised by the Forests & Environment Department in Tura.
The workshop witnessed active participation from senior government officials, subject experts, stakeholders, representatives of various organizations, and farmers.
Deliberations focused on strategies to strengthen climate resilience, promote sustainable forest management, and enhance green livelihood opportunities in Meghalaya.
Lokayukta Chairman CP Marak highlighted the vast potential of Agarwood—often referred to as “green gold”—as a sustainable livelihood source. He noted that the Northeast has historically been known for its rich forest produce, including Agarwood, ivory, cinnamon, and thatch grass etc, with records of trade and export dating back to the British era in the then Assam region. While welcoming efforts to promote Agar cultivation among farmers, he emphasized the need for enhanced government support, particularly in view of the existing export quota of 25,000 kg, and expressed hope that the matter would be reviewed to further benefit growers.
TTC Marak (IFS retd.) observed that Meghalaya has often depended on exploitative practices and stressed the importance of adopting a holistic and sustainable approach. Referring to discussions on policy, certification, inoculation, extraction, legal trade, and challenges in Agar cultivation, he underscored the need for close coordination among growers, scientists, developers, and market stakeholders. He cautioned that without proper knowledge of processing and marketing, Agar cultivation efforts may not yield desired outcomes. He suggested identifying uninfected mature Agar trees for oil production, establishing government facilitation centres, and introducing buyback mechanisms to support farmers.
The second day featured deliberations on climate resilience and green economic activities, including division-wise mapping of opportunities.
A panel discussion on the Draft Forest Policy was also held, with participation from Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) from across the state, along with other stakeholders.
