As part of the Prosperity of Grassroot Families through Livestock Interventions programme, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong today distributed piglets to beneficiaries under the Rural Backyard Piggery Scheme of the National Livestock Mission at an event held at Tynring, East Khasi Hills.
Speaking on the occasion, Tynsong lauded the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department for coming up with this initiative, which the government hopes will benefit the poorest of the poor and also boost their livelihoods.
He informed that under this initiative three female piglets and one male will be given free of cost for breeding purposes to 500 beneficiaries under Mawryngkneng constituency.
In case a scheme pig dies within a period of one month after being handed over, the Deputy CM said that the government will give the relevant beneficiary a replacement piglet.
Pork-loving Meghalaya is currently unable to satisfy its own hunger for the meat, with consumption standing at 18,000 tonnes annually, with more than half this amount (10,000 tonnes) having to be imported from other states.
Others who spoke at the programme included Mawryngkneng MLA Pyniaid Sing Syiem and senior civil servants.
