Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today inaugurated the Jackfruit Techno Incubation Centre (TIC), located at the Institute of Hotel Management at Mawdiangdiang here.
The TIC is one of two incubation centres under the Government’s Mission Jackfruit that are being set up in Meghalaya. The government is also in the process of setting up a TIC at the College of Community Science in Tura.
Mission Jackfruit was launched in 2018. Envisaged as a five-year project, it is being implemented under the Directorate of Food Processing.
During his inaugural address, Sangma said that the mission mode programmes are aimed at promoting sustainable rural and urban livelihoods and to help farmers realise increased incomes through value addition and access to better markets.
Rs 500 crore worth of jackfruit was going to waste before the mission was initiated, Sangma said. “Until and unless we convert this produce into things that are sellable and make something more out of something we already have, it’s going to be useless,” he added.
The Chief Minister also stressed on the role of agri-entrepreneurs as a link in the process of value addition and finding lucrative markets for finished products.
He also emphasized the need to encourage eateries and restaurants to source local products to promote them.
Mawryngkneng MLA Pyniaid Sing Syiem, during his address, expressed gratitude for the different programmes initiated by the government for the welfare of farmers.
Meghalaya Farmers’ (Empowerment) Commission chairman KN Kumar, meanwhile, said that the new TIC will act as a common processing centre and centre for innovation of jackfruit and provide hands-on training.
