Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has said that the government will focus on agriculture, food processing, tourism and the service sectors as key areas to employ youth.
Out of the 50,000 youth who enter the workforce every year, 3000 are employed in the government sector, while the rest have to seek employment in the private sector, he said.
Speaking at the launch of the Prime Agriculture Response Vehicles at MAMETI, Upper Shillong today, the Chief Minister said, “In the private sector we have to look at Agriculture, Food Processing, Tourism and the Service Sector as the key areas for employment failing which we will not be able to provide job opportunities to our youth.”
He said that the government is trying to boost the growth of the private sector in the State and that the Agriculture and Food Processing plays a vital role to provide economic benefits to the people and create the employment that is required.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister flagged off 20 Prime ARVs and the keys handed to different Integrated Village Cooperative Societies from Khasi and Jaiñtia Hills.
He also informed that an additional fleet of 200 Prime Agriculture Response Vehicles will be distributed in the next phase.
Under the Prime Agri Response Vehicles, 200 vehicles will be distributed to cooperative societies, Self Help Groups, Farmers Producer Organizations and individuals on 50 per cent subsidy on on-road cost of the vehicle.
The scheme is intended for rural populations who are remotely connected bridging the transportation gaps while providing livelihood opportunities to the rural population.
A number of Agriculture-Farming apps namely, CROPSAP, Crop Pest Surveillance and Advisory Project, a collection of WEB and Mobile application for Crop Pest Surveillance and Advisory Project Management System, Horticulture Hub MIS application for managing the daily activities such as sale, farmers’ trainings, generating sales and receipts, reports and managing availability of stocks, MEGAMB, Meghalaya State Agriculture Marketing Board, Meghalaya Farmer App and the MAMETI website were launched during the occasion.
