Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today launched the Farmer’s Collectivization for Upscaling Production and Marketing Systems (FOCUS) for Samanda block in East Garo Hills.
The Chief Minister said FOCUS is a flagship initiative of the State government to provide market access and financial assistance to farmers collective. He said farmers in the State, who comprise about 70 per cent of the population will receive added benefits through the programme to supplement the various welfare schemes of the government that are in line with the State’s vision for the agriculture sector.
Informing that the programme supports farmers collective as “Producers Group”, as financial aid is provided to them Sangma said through the programme, the government envisages to upscale farming activities in the State by providing them better market access.
“There are several problems for an individual farmer. So we are encouraging like-minded farmers to come together as a group and avail the benefits of the scheme”, he said, while urging farmers to form Producers Group to avail the benefit.
He informed that Rs 5000 for an individual will be provided to each farmer under the programme. However they have to register as producers group. The assistance provided to producers group is not a loan but assistance, so that the farmers can upscale their farming and income generating activities, he added.
He also told that Rs 200 Cr has been earmarked for the programme, which will be spent over the next few years.
The Chief Minister also spoke about PRIME Hub, incubation and mentoring centre, which is coming up across the State that will provide technical know-how and training for value addition, processing and packaging.
He urged farmers groups and entrepreneurs to avail loan from different programmes of the government to set up processing units and referred to the ambitious entrepreneurship promotion programme that provides necessary support to potential entrepreneurs of the State.
He further said that farmer’s welfare and entrepreneurs was a thrust area for (L) P.A Sangma and the Govt is working to fructify his dream through FOCUS programme.
During the programme, he also handed over cheques to 35 producers groups from East Garo Hills.
Meanwhile, an interaction programme with producer groups under FOCUS was held at the multi facility centre, Bakrapara in Resubelpara in North Garo Hills to mark the birth anniversary of (L) PA Sangma.
Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker, Timothy D Shira addressed the farmers at the programme and highlighted about FOCUS. He also spoke about various interventions taken by the government to promote farm and agricultural based activities.
Cheques were also handed to 35 producer groups from the three C&RD Blocks of the district. Interactive session with the producer groups was also held wherein various agricultural problems were discussed during the meeting.
