The Meghalaya government today informed that it has signed an agreement with Mother Dairy Fruits and Vegetables to enhance collaboration in agricultural marketing and supply chain management in Meghalaya.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Meghalaya State Agricultural Marketing Board and Mother Dairy Fruits and Vegetables, a subsidiary of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).
The partnership aims to address key challenges faced by the State’s farming community by improving direct market connectivity and post-harvest management.
Experts from Mother Dairy will work with the State government to upgrade current practices, focusing on crop research and development, varietal improvements, and productivity.
The initiative will also target optimising logistics costs, marketing the ‘Meghalaya brand’ in Delhi, and strengthening the dairy, fruit, and vegetable value chains, along with the organic sector.
Dr. Meenesh Shah, Chairman and Managing Director of NDDB, praised the MoU as a groundbreaking initiative.
“The strategic partnership between the Meghalaya State Agricultural Marketing Board and Mother Dairy will foster sustainable growth and promote agricultural products from Meghalaya. We are committed to supporting farmer-centric initiatives and ensuring better prices for their produce,” Shah said.
Stating that Mother Dairy will contribute to varietal improvement, shelf-life extension, and value-added processing, further enhancing productivity, Shah assured that NDDB will continue to empower farmers by providing direct market access and integrating the agricultural products from Meghalaya into its network, focusing on their organic potential.
Manish Bandlish, Managing Director of Mother Dairy Fruit & Vegetable Pvt Ltd, emphasised the role of NDDB in connecting farmers with consumers through a unified platform.
“This collaboration highlights our commitment to linking India’s rich agricultural heritage with urban markets, offering premium produce from across states to discerning consumers both nationally and internationally,” he stated.
Bandlish also noted the positive response to Meghalaya pineapples at Safal outlets in Delhi and announced plans to expand the initiative to include more varieties from the State, such as Ginger, Lakadong Turmeric, and GI-tagged Khasi Mandarin.