The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) along with the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare organised a one-day ‘Bharat Agri Conclave cum International Buyer-Seller Meet’ in Shillong today.
The primary objective of the event was to promote the agri-horti products in the North East Region especially those from Meghalaya. It also aims to link the producers and processors of Meghalaya with buyers from India and abroad.
Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ampareen Lyngdoh attended the event as the chief guest. In her address she expressed her appreciation to APEDA for its initiatives in promoting Meghalaya’s agriculture quoting, “it gives us a great sense of hope.”
She emphasized on the tremendous potential of the state in offering and contributing agricultural produce to domestic and global market.
Commissioner and Secretary Vijay Kumar D shared the initial success story of first export shipment of Khasi Mandarin (GI) and Pineapple to the Middle East. He outlined the vision of the state government to scale up such more initiatives of exports of local products to international markets to increase farmer’s income.
APEDA Chairman Abhishek Dev in his address emphasised on the export potential of agriculture products from Meghalaya. He also outlined various initiatives to augment organic exports from the state and also initiative in easing the organic certification process and further added that APEDA is expediting the accreditation of more certification bodies, especially from the northeast, in the interest of the local organic farmers.
The event was to provide an opportunity for producers and processors of Meghalaya to showcase their products to global and domestic buyers.
Buyers from 12 countries viz., Uganda, Ghana, Indonesia, Greece, Kuwait, Oman, Vietnam, Nepal, Bangladesh, Singapore, Kenya, and the United Arab Emirates actively participated and interacted with the exporters.
Over 41 exporters across the country and 106 FPO/FPCs, corporative societies and other producer groups from the state participated.
A wide range of agricultural products, including organic fresh fruits and vegetables, processed food products, spices such as Lakadong turmeric, natural honey, aromatic rice, pulses, and others were displayed during the event.
