Shillong, Jul 28: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today inaugurated the state’s first Centrifuged Latex Unit at Koksi Nengsat under Songsak C&RD block in East Garo Hills.
The project will benefit close to 3000 farmers involved in rubber plantation across Garo Hills.
Managed and implemented by Sr Rose, founder of Mendipathar Multipurpose Cooperative Society (MMCS) and is funded by the State Government through Meghalaya Basin Management Agency with an amount of Rs 18.8 crore.
“The rubber sheets industry has faced challenges due to middlemen from outside the region. This processing unit will reverse the trend and benefit farmers involved in rubber plantation,” the Chief Minister said.
He urged rubber plantation farmers to sell their raw rubber to the unit, which will provide the best competitive price and save them time.
Sangma spoke on the government’s goal to double the income of farmers and improve their livelihoods and opportunities.
He highlighted initiatives like Nokma ice cream, which produces 1 lakh packets daily, Awang chips processing unit, and mushroom farming in Mendipathar. These units have benefited farmers in Rongara, Tikrikilla and Mendipathar, he added.
The Chief Minister informed that the government is setting up 40 manufacturing and processing units to benefit the farming communities in the state.
As government jobs are saturated, he stressed on promoting entrepreneurship in the state and said that the government through CM Elevate is supporting business ventures and promoting entrepreneurship.
During the event, the Chief Minister also laid the foundation for Meghalaya’s first fruit dehydration unit.
The project, costing Rs 23 crore, will be completed by November next year and will have a processing capacity of 7,400 MT fruits annually.
The project is expected to benefit over 5,000 farmers through assured procurement and improved price realization, reduce post-harvest losses, and generate employment opportunities.
