The Directorate of Food Processing (DoFP) is working to give Meghalaya’s farmers and food entrepreneurs a leg up and sell the state’s delicious produce far and wide.
MD Shadap, Officer on Special Duty at the DoFP, said that funds from many schemes from the directorate and central government have been disbursed to small scale entrepreneurs looking to set up food processing units. The DoFP provides those interested with subsidies, packaging materials, machinery and equipment.
“But the most important thing is platforms like these that we give them where they can showcase their products,” Shadap said at World Food India 2024 in New Delhi, where Meghalaya food entrepreneurs are exhibiting their produce.
According to him, visitors appreciate the packaging and the quality of the products from Meghalaya. “We see many buyers come and make enquiries to know the finer details and strike deals,” Shadap said.
Since the setting up of the DoFP in 2018, potential individuals were identified who were interested in setting up small processing units, mainly concentrating on micro and nano processing. At least 140 individuals have received credit link subsidies, while around 1,900 self-help groups (SHGs) received seed capital of Rs 70,000 each. Up to 300 business units have received subsidised packaging materials and 80 have received machinery and equipment at a 50 percent subsidy.
Three food entrepreneurs have spoken warmly of the experience of coming to New Delhi for World Food India 2024.
Namshrang R Diengdoh, proprietor of Nongrep, said that he got visitors from Turkey, Poland and Latvia, who couriered samples of his products to their countries. “After testing, if they like it, they will come back,” he said. The proprietor of Nongrep said that he has never been to such an exhibition before and this experience has left him with a “lasting impression”. He is also hopeful that he will get more such opportunities in the future to showcase his products.
“Here we have global businesses, buying agencies, exporters and importers who are specialists in this line and we get a direct opportunity to meet them,” Diengdoh added.
Golda Talang, proprietor of Golda Food Processing of Umsalang in Laskein, West Jaintia Hills, said that buyers were most interested in candy made from Khasi pears/wild apple and ginger.
Perastill R Sangma, CEO of Aslidia Food Products from Chokpot, said that buyers coming to his stall were interested in chips made out of banana and tapioca. He also said that some other buyers wanted to buy large quantities of raw materials from him and do their own packaging.
