Shillong, Apr 20: The Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Directorate of Horticulture organised an input distribution programme for farmers and community institutions at SMELC, Tura.
The programme focused on the convergence of key agricultural and horticultural schemes to enhance productivity, promote sustainable practices, and strengthen farmer livelihoods.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma who attended the programme reiterated the government’s commitment to improving farmers’ income through targeted interventions, value addition, and sustainable agricultural practices.
Referring to key challenges, he stated that timely access to quality seeds has been a major concern for farmers, which will be taken up in a mission mode to ensure that every farmer receives the right inputs at the right time.
He spoke on the Ginger Mission and informed that the government has invested over ₹62 crore since 2022, benefitting more than 19,000 farmers across the State. The programme will be further expanded to cover over 15,000 additional farmers aimed at reviving Meghalaya’s position as a leading ginger-producing state, he added.
He further informed that a major ginger processing unit is nearing completion with a project cost of about ₹20 crore in Ri Bhoi to benefit about 10,000 ginger farmers.
The chief minister also highlighted the distribution of support under the Organic Manure Scheme. Underscoring the importance of value addition, he spoke about the growing network of food processing units in the State.
During the programme, inputs were distributed under multiple schemes, including the Ginger Mission, distribution of dummy cheques to beneficiaries for the establishment of vermicomposting units under the Organic Manure Scheme, and distribution of vegetable seed kits to Anganwadi Centres under the Vegetable Development Scheme.
The programme also highlighted progress in value addition through PRIME Hubs. Of the 40 sanctioned units across the State (including 20 in Garo Hills), 11 are operational, with six located in Garo Hills and three in West Garo Hills at Dalu, Tikrikilla, and Rongram. These units process produce such as pineapple, cashew, and ginger into value-added products marketed under brands including Ge’am Gardens and Nokma through Meghalaya Collectives.
